Elon Musk's Neuralink Brain Chip Undergoes First Human Trial

There was a time when brain implants, chips placed in the brain that allow humans to control devices and have wireless communication with others only using their thoughts, were only a thing of science fiction, imagined to be something that would exist in the far future, along with cyberpunk cities and flying cars.

Thanks to pioneering neurologists such as Dr. Phil Kennedy, who in the late 90s made a paralyzed man control a computer cursor with his mind by implanting wire electrodes in his brain, brain implants, also called brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)*, became a reality. In order to continue his research and share more knowledge that could further advance neurotechnology, Kennedy even went as far as putting tiny electrodes inside his own brain back in 2014.

After growing aware of all this research and the groundbreaking potential of BCIs, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk founded Neuralink, a neurotechnology company that develops fully implantable BCIs for patients with neurological disabilities to control digital devices through mere neural activity.

*BCI: A computer-based system that acquires and analyzes brain signals, translating them into commands relayed to a device to carry out actions.

Brain-Computer Interfaces

Neuralink was publicly launched back in 2017, with one of its short-term goals being the creation of implantable devices that can treat brain diseases. Musk was also ambitious enough to express the startup’s more science fiction-like long-term goal; human enhancement through symbiosis with artificial intelligence.

This goal entails a vein or artery implant for those with brain or spinal injuries that detects any lost capabilities and automatically adjusts to them, allowing one’s body to perform at its best. Musk has hope that this could someday be achieved, but only when AI no longer remains unchecked.

As of right now, however, Neuralink has dedicated its resources to developing the startup’s very first product, which Musk calls Telepathy. Neuralink’s team of neuroscientists and engineers gathered to build a brain chip that, when implanted into the human brain, gives individuals control of almost every digital device only through thoughts. The chip allows neuronal signals in the human brain to connect with digital devices, rendering any physical movement moot.

The product, which is developed under the startup’s Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface (PRIME)* study, is a small, cosmetically invisible chip that is to be placed in the part of the brain that plans movements. Its position allows the chip to interpret a person’s neural activity and, thus, their intentions in movement. Musk envisions the product as something that would enable Stephen Hawking to communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer.

*PRIME: Neuralink’s investigational medical device trial aimed at evaluating the safety of its implant and surgical robot as well as its BCI’s functionality.

Human Clinical Trials

Neuralink isn’t the first to develop BCIs for patients with neurological disabilities. Biotechnology company Blackrock Neurotech managed to build the Utah Array, a chip that restores function in paralysis and ALS patients. The chip was first tested in humans back in 2004, with an elevated version of it, named the NeuroPort Array, approved for human use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021. The company still aims for a long-term clearance that would allow commercialization in clinical therapy as well as at-home treatments.

Neuralink, on the other hand, received FDA approval for its first human trial just last May. The startup then created a patient registry page for US citizens over 18 with neurological disabilities on its website, stating its interest in testing the implantable brain chips in people with “quadriplegia, paraplegia, vision loss, hearing loss, the inability to speak, and/or major limb amputation.”

Very recently, Musk announced that a chip had been successfully implanted in the startup’s first trial patient, the trial’s result showing “promising neuron spike detection.” Musk did not reveal the patient’s identity but has stated that they are recovering well.

While Neuralink and Blackrock seem to share the same big picture of utilizing their resources to bring a positive impact for those with neurological disabilities, it is unclear whether Neuralink will take the same steps towards commercialized clinical therapy any time soon, as, at the moment, the startup appears to focus on the accessibility of digital devices. Another differentiator between Neuralink’s and Blackrock’s BCIs is their surgical methods, in which the former utilizes innovative robot surgery whilst the latter relies on specialized neurosurgeons.

The startup plans to undergo more testing to ensure that the BCI will function properly and safely without any unwanted side effects from the implantation surgery. If Neuralink succeeds in all of its early clinical trials and in creating a fully implantable BCI, Musk envisions treating a wide range of neurological ailments in the long run.

As Neuralink continues to push the boundaries of brain-computer interface technology, the possibilities for improving the lives of individuals with neurological disabilities are vast. From enabling seamless communication for those with speech impairments to potentially restoring motor function for paralyzed individuals, the implications of Neuralink's work are profound. With further advancements and successful clinical trials, we may soon witness a significant shift in how we perceive and interact with the human brain.

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Job Posting

• Neuralink - Software Engineer, BCI Applications - Fremont, CA (In-Office/Hybrid)

• Neuralink - Software Engineer, Clinical - Fremont, CA (In-Office/Hybrid)

• Neuralink - Software Engineer, Lab Systems - Fremont, CA (In-Office/Hybrid)

• Neuralink - Software Engineer, Robotics - Fremont, CA (In-Office/Hybrid)

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