Neuralink's breakthrough and setbacks: A glimpse into the future of brain implants

Neuralink, Elon Musk's company, recently shared the outcomes of its initial tests concerning the implantation of its brain implant. Though the study initially seemed full of promise, it soon encountered numerous problems.

In March 2024, Elon Musk revealed that his company, Neuralink, had successfully implanted the first brain implant in a patient. 29-year-old Noland Arbaugh, who became paralyzed after a diving accident, can now move a cursor and play "Civilization VI" using just his thoughts after the procedure. This technology facilitates even hours-long, intensive gameplay. However, it is essential to underline that the device requires recharging every eight hours. Musk highlighted that in the future, Neuralink implants will enable individuals with spinal cord injuries to walk again.

Despite the study's initially promising results, certain issues came to light quite quickly. It emerged that the N1 implant, designed to create a brain-computer interface for controlling devices purely through thought, faced difficulties because of its ultra-thin electrodes soon after it was implanted in Noland Arbaugh.

Information from IFLScience disclosed that some of the electrodes had dislodged from the brain a few weeks post-procedure, leading to a reduced number of effectively functioning electrodes. This significantly weakened the ability to control the computer cursor through thought, diminishing the speed and accuracy of the movement. Nonetheless, Neuralink modified the algorithms that record and process neural signals. The company announced that these adjustments have led to a rapid and lasting improvement, surpassing Arbaugh's initial accomplishments.

The functionality of the N1 implant was showcased to the public during a live stream in March on the social platform X. During this broadcast, Arbaugh, paralyzed from the shoulders down, demonstrated his ability to control the cursor while playing chess. He described this as an opportunity to carry out tasks that had been impossible since his accident. Elon Musk, the founder of Neuralink, likened this capability to telepathy.

However, it's important to note that the excitement surrounding the company’s advancements may be tempered by controversies linked to their animal research. These studies, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human trials, have prompted a federal investigation. This inquiry uncovered numerous issues. Despite these challenges, Neuralink continues to aspire to revolutionize the interaction between the brain and computers.