As of February this year, Elon Musk’s startup has implanted a brain implant in three patients who have lost the use of all their limbs. The most well-known success story is that of the first of them, Noland Arbaugh, who has already lived with the implant in his head for a year. Now Neuralink is looking for volunteers around the world.
Image source: Neuralink
Previously, the geography of clinical trials of Neuralink brain implants was limited to the United States and Canada, although preparations for them were also underway in the United Kingdom. Last week, the company posted an announcement on the social network X, announcing the start of accepting applications for participation in brain implant trials from volunteers around the world. At this stage, the basic selection criterion, in addition to the desire to “learn to control a computer with the help of thought,” is the presence of paralysis of four limbs.
Recall that Neuralink’s first patient, Noland Arboe, has now mastered working with a laptop, deftly controlling the cursor literally with his mind. He not only plays strategy games, but has also resumed his university studies remotely, interrupted by a spinal injury. Before the implant, he could barely watch YouTube videos using a tablet controlled by a stylus held in his teeth.
The second Neuralink patient, Alex, lost the mobility of all four limbs in a car accident. After the Neuralink implant was implanted, he was able to resume work as a designer, and now not only draws sketches, but also designs various parts in specialized software. Recently, he has also been mastering the programming of automation tools on the Arduino platform. With the help of the implant, Alex controls a smartphone attached to a special tripod on his wheelchair. He is also taking part in an experiment in controlling a robotic arm with his thoughts.
The third Neuralink patient, Brad, lost mobility in his limbs due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disease almost completely deprived him of mobility, he was only able to move his eyes and the corners of his mouth. Before the Neuralink implant, he could only transmit information using special software that tracked eye movements to enter letters, and this could only be done in rooms with stable and proper lighting. In fact, this forced Brad to spend most of his time at home in semi-darkness. The implant allowed him to learn to type much faster with the power of thought, and to do this outside his home.