The first human patient has received an implant from brain-chip startup Neuralink on Sunday and is recovering well, the company’s billionaire founder Elon Musk said.
Musk shared on the social media platform X on Monday that the initial outcomes indicate promising detection of neuron spikes. Neuron spikes, as defined by the National Institute of Health, refer to the activity of cells that utilize electrical and chemical signals to transmit information within the brain and to the body.
Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted clearance to Neuralink for its first human trial, a crucial step in the company’s mission to assist patients in overcoming paralysis and various neurological conditions. In September, Neuralink announced approval for the recruitment of participants in the human trial. The study involves the use of a robot to surgically implant a brain-computer interface (BCI) in a brain region responsible for the intention to move. Neuralink’s initial objective is to empower individuals to control a computer cursor or keyboard solely through their thoughts.
The ultra-fine threads of the implants facilitate signal transmission in participants’ brains, as described by Neuralink. Elon Musk mentioned in a separate X post that the first product from Neuralink would be named Telepathy. The startup’s PRIME Study focuses on evaluating the safety of the wireless brain-computer interface and the surgical robot used in the implantation process.
Despite requests for scrutiny regarding safety protocols, Neuralink did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for additional details. The company faced fines for violating U.S. Department of Transportation rules on hazardous material movement. In late November, four lawmakers urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether Musk had misled investors about the safety of Neuralink’s technology.
Musk responded in a September social media post, asserting that no monkeys had died due to Neuralink implants, and the company had chosen “terminal” monkeys to minimize risk to healthy ones. Neuralink, valued at approximately $5 billion last June, has been navigating both technological advancements and regulatory challenges in its pursuit of innovative neural interface solutions.
