The chips of Neuralink have been designed in such a way that they can effectively interpret the signals of the brain and transmit them to connected devices via Bluetooth. This process worked successfully during the examination of a monkey's brain.
Tech magnate Elon Musk asserted that his Neuralink company has effectively installed one of its wireless brain chips in a human. On X, formerly Twitter, Musk stated that "promising" brain activity was observed post-procedure, and the patient was "recovering well." Neuralink's objective is to establish connections between human brains and computers to address intricate neurological conditions. Several competing firms have already implemented similar devices.
Professor Anne Vanhoestenberghe of King's College London remarked, "For any company producing medical devices, the first test in humans is a significant milestone." She noted that Neuralink has entered a relatively small group of companies that have implanted such devices in humans within the brain-computer interface community. However, she emphasized the need for caution, stating that "true success" could only be determined over the long term.
While acknowledging Elon Musk's talent for generating publicity, she also urged scrutiny. Independent verification of Musk's claims is lacking, and Neuralink has not disclosed details about the purported procedure. The École Polytechnique Fédérale in Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland is among the other entities making strides in this field. They achieved the feat of enabling a paralyzed individual to walk through electronic implants on the brain and spine, communicating thoughts wirelessly to the legs and feet. This breakthrough was documented in the peer-reviewed journal Nature in May 2023.
There is no independent confirmation of Musk's assertions, and both Neuralink and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been contacted for comments by BBC News.
Neuralink testing
In the past, Neuralink faced criticism, as reported by Reuters in December 2022, for engaging in testing that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,500 animals, including sheep, monkeys, and pigs.
In July 2023, the head of the US Department of Agriculture, responsible for investigating animal welfare concerns, stated that no violations of animal research rules were found at the firm. However, a separate ongoing investigation by the agency is in progress.
Elon Musk's company obtained FDA approval in May 2023 to conduct human testing of the chip. This clearance marked the beginning of a six-year study, during which a robot is employed to surgically implant 64 flexible threads—thinner than a human hair—onto a section of the brain controlling "movement intention," as per Neuralink.
The company claims that these threads enable its experimental implant, powered by a wirelessly rechargeable battery, to record and transmit brain signals to an app, decoding the individual's intended movements.
Professor Tara Spires-Jones, President of the British Neuroscience Association, remarked, "[It] has great potential to help people with neurological disorders in the future and is an excellent example of how fundamental neuroscience research is being harnessed for medical advances." She noted, however, that most of these interfaces involve invasive neurosurgery and are still in experimental stages, making widespread availability likely many years away.
Telepathy
In a different X post, Elon Musk announced that Neuralink's inaugural product would bear the name "Telepathy." According to Musk, Telepathy aims to facilitate the "control of your phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking."
He elaborated that the initial users of Telepathy would be individuals who have lost the use of their limbs. Musk envisioned a scenario where individuals with such limitations, like the late British scientist Stephen Hawking who had motor neurone disease, could communicate at speeds surpassing those of a typist or auctioneer.
While Elon Musk's involvement has undoubtedly heightened Neuralink's visibility, some competitors boast a track record dating back two decades. Blackrock Neurotech, based in Utah, implanted its first brain-computer interface in 2004. Another player, Precision Neuroscience, founded by a co-founder of Neuralink, also aims to assist individuals with paralysis. Their implant takes the form of an extremely thin piece of tape placed on the brain's surface and can be implanted through a "cranial micro-slit," offering a supposedly simpler procedure.
Notably, existing devices have already yielded positive outcomes. Recent scientific studies in the US utilized implants to monitor brain activity during attempts to speak, with the decoded information aiding in communication.
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