TLDR:
Elon Musk’s brain-chip startup, Neuralink, has successfully implanted its first device in a human patient. The patient is reportedly recovering well and initial results show promising neuron spike detection. Neuralink received authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration last year to conduct human trials for its implant. The PRIME Study aims to evaluate the safety and initial functionality of Neuralink’s brain-computer interface, which allows people with quadriplegia to control external devices with their thoughts. The implant is placed in a part of the brain responsible for planning movements and is designed to interpret neural activity.
Key Points:
- Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-chip startup, has implanted its first device in a human patient.
- The patient is recovering well, and initial results show promising neuron spike detection.
- The US Food and Drug Administration granted Neuralink authorization for human trials last year.
- The PRIME Study aims to evaluate the safety and functionality of Neuralink’s brain-computer interface.
- The implant is placed in a part of the brain responsible for planning movements and allows users to control external devices with their thoughts.
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of brain-chip startup Neuralink, announced that the company successfully implanted its first device in a human patient this Sunday. The patient is reportedly recovering well following the procedure. “Initial results show promising neuron spike detection,” Musk posted on the social media platform X on Monday. Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration granted Neuralink authorization to commence its inaugural human trial to test its implant.
Neuralink has been conducting the trials under the label The PRIME Study. According to information posted on Neuralink website says, “The study is a groundbreaking investigational medical device trial for our fully-implantable, wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) – aims to evaluate the safety of our implant and surgical robot, and assess the initial functionality of our BCI for enabling people with quadriplegia to control external devices with their thoughts.”
The study involves placing a small, cosmetically invisible implant in a part of the brain that plans movements. The device is designed to interpret a person’s neural activity, so they can operate a computer or smartphone by simply intending to move – no wires or physical movement are required.
Despite growing calls that the chip is not safe for humans, Elon Musk has downplayed them insisting that Neuralink technology will enable the paralyzed to walk and the blind see.