A computer chip developed by Neuralink has been implanted in the first human test subject, marking a milestone in the cutting-edge field of brain-computer interface (BCI) research, according to Neuralink co-founder and owner Elon Musk.
“The first humans received implants from Neuralink. Musk announced on Twitter late Monday that he was “recovering well yesterday.” “Initial results showed promising neuronal spike detection.”
Neuralink’s first foray into BCI aims to decode intended movement signals from brain activity, allowing control of external devices, such as computers. There, Musk also laid out his vision for the company’s first product, Telepathy.
“(It) allows you to control your phone, computer, and almost any other device with just your thoughts,” he wrote on Twitter. “The initial users will be people who lack the use of their limbs. Imagine Stephen Hawking being able to communicate faster than a speed typist or an auctioneer. That’s the goal.”
The California-based company, founded in 2016, received approval from federal regulators at the Food and Drug Administration in September to begin human trials. Neuralink has an open call for volunteers for the PRIME study. “Precision Robotic Implantable Brain-Computer Interface.”
Rumors about the company’s developments died down somewhat in November. Reuters The report detailed the painful and sometimes bizarre results of animal testing.
volunteer pool
No additional details were provided Sunday about procedures or topics (the Neuralink company blog was last updated nearly five months ago), but Neuralink’s recruiting material outlines some of the requirements for participating in human trials.
The company said, “The target is patients with quadriplegia (limited function of all four limbs) due to spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who have been at least one year (without improvement) after the injury.” Brochure posted online. Participants must also be at least 22 years old and have a “consistent and trustworthy caregiver.”
The time commitment includes nine visits (some in the hospital, some at home) over 18 months and one-hour “study sessions” twice a week.
After the primary study is completed, Neuralink expects participants to continue the study for five more years and make 20 more visits.
technology
The study is a test of several components, including the BCI implant itself, called N1, and a robot to “surgically place the N1 implant into the brain region that controls motor intention.”
The N1 has 1,024 electrodes distributed across 64 threads “thinner than a human hair.” Neuralink says it records neural activity and transmits it to a mobile app so patients can control the computer with their thoughts.
Neuralink says the implants are “cosmetically invisible.”
arguement
Many research institutes and private companies are developing BCI technology. However, few of them include surgical implants.
Animal rights group the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has long criticized Neuralink’s approach.
“Implantable devices like Neuralink have numerous problems, including being difficult to repair and highly likely to cause serious medical complications in patients,” the group said, arguing that the company violated federal animal welfare laws but was given a “free pass.” From the agency responsible for law enforcement.”
In November, after photos of Neuralink’s animal testing subjects were released, PCRM said the company was “mutilating and killing monkeys” due to “chronic infections, paralysis, seizures and death.” Instead, focus on improving non-invasive brain-machine interfaces.
“Non-invasive (brain-machine interfaces) use electroencephalography (EEG), which allows risk-free monitoring of large-scale neural activity throughout the brain,” the group said. They can already “allow people to communicate directly using computers.”
Last fall, scientists were able to reproduce music that subjects were thinking about using skin-surface electrodes.
But Neuralink’s surgical approach is not unique.
Last summer, a neural implant helped a paralyzed man in New York move his arms and sense touch.
Houston-based Motif Neurotech, which announced an $18.75 Series A fundraising round last week, is developing “minimally invasive” wireless therapy hardware for mental health.
Neuralink’s rapid progress in human testing “demonstrates the interest and demand for neurotechnology,” said Motif Neurotech CEO Jacob Robinson. wall street journal.