Worldsfeed News Desk: Elon Musk’s Neuralink has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully implanting its ‘Link’ brain chip in a human through surgery. The coin-sized device aims to establish a direct communication channel between the human brain and computers, holding immense potential for medical advancements and enhanced human-computer interaction.
If the ongoing human trials prove successful, the ‘Link’ chip could offer transformative benefits, such as restoring vision for blind individuals and enabling paralysis patients to walk and operate computers. Elon Musk expressed optimism about the initial results, emphasizing the potential for individuals with impaired limb function to control devices through thought alone.
In a recent post, Musk highlighted the positive recovery of the first patient to receive the implant. He envisions a future where individuals can seamlessly control phones, computers, and various devices through neural impulses. Musk suggested that initial users may include those with impaired limb functionality, opening possibilities for enhanced communication and accessibility.
Neuralink received approval for its first human trial in September 2023, focusing on individuals with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, expected to span six years, aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the ‘Link’ device on patients. Participants will receive travel expenses to and from the lab during the trial period.
The ‘Link’ device itself is a cosmetically invisible, coin-sized brain-computer interface. It enables users to control computers and mobile devices through neural impulses. The implant, consisting of micron-scale threads inserted into brain areas controlling movement, features electrodes known as “links.” These links connect to the threads and facilitate the brain-computer interface.
To implant the threads precisely, Neuralink has designed a robotic system, given their fine and flexible nature. The company has also developed the Neuralink app, allowing users to control keyboards and mice through brain activity. The device requires external charging, facilitated by a compact inductive charger that wirelessly connects to the implant.
The technology behind Neuralink’s brain chip is Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), which utilizes tiny electrodes in the brain to interpret signals from nearby neurons. The software then translates these signals into commands, such as moving a cursor or controlling a robotic arm. With numerous companies working on BCIs, Neuralink’s achievement marks a significant step toward merging human cognition with technological advancements.
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