A video shared by Musk showcased the first successful use of the Neuralink brain chip by a paraplegic man, Noland Arbaugh, 29, who controlled a computer cursor and played a game of chess using only his thoughts.
In the video, Arbaugh, seated in his wheelchair, proudly demonstrated his newfound ability. "See that cursor on the screen? That's all me... it's all brainpower," he declared. Arbaugh, who was paralyzed from the shoulders down following a diving accident eight years ago, expressed his astonishment at the technology, likening it to using 'The Force' from Star Wars.
March 22, 2024
The Arizona resident's successful utilization of the Neuralink chip marks a significant milestone in the field of neurotechnology, bolstering expert beliefs that it could revolutionize care for the disabled. Arbaugh's joy was palpable throughout the video as he moved the mouse across the online chessboard.
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Musk had previously announced that the first person had been implanted with the chip and was "able to move a mouse around the screen just by thinking." He further stated at a Spaces event that the patient had made a full recovery, with no adverse neural effects.
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Neuralink's technology involves a robot surgically placing a brain-computer interface implant in a region of the brain that controls the intention to move. The system consists of a computer chip attached to tiny flexible threads stitched into the brain by a 'sewing-machine-like' robot. The procedure, according to Musk, takes just 30 minutes, does not require general anesthesia, and allows patients to return home the same day.
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Arbaugh, a former Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, described the surgery as 'super easy' and reassured potential future patients that there was 'nothing to be afraid of.' He suffered his debilitating injury while working at a children's camp in Texas in 2016, and has lived with 'absolutely no feeling' from below his shoulders since then.
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In the video, Arbaugh was joined by a Neuralink engineer who asked him to explain how he was able to telepathically move a computer mouse. Arbaugh explained that they started with 'imagined movement', versus 'attempted movement', and from there, it became intuitive for him.
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One of the highlights for Arbaugh is his ability to play video games again, something he had missed since his accident. He also revealed his plans to dress as Professor X from X-Men, a paraplegic mutant with telepathic abilities, for Halloween.
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Despite the excitement surrounding Neuralink, the company has faced controversy. Last month, DailyMail.com reported that Neuralink houses thousands of animals for testing, including monkeys, sheep, and pigs. The procedures involve drilling holes into the animals' heads and filling them with glue. Death reports reveal that some animals had parts of their limbs amputated and were euthanized after repeated episodes of vomiting and diarrhea.
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Arbaugh acknowledged that his Neuralink implant was 'not perfect' and had encountered some issues. However, he emphasized that the technology had already changed his life and encouraged others to consider participating in the human trials. "I want to be a part of something that I feel is going to change the world," he said.
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