Neuralink keeps on moving forward Musk’s project is achieving rather significant results

The first Neuralink patient – the company founded by Elon Musk that develops brain implants – is said to be extremely satisfied with the technology: his name is Noland Arbaugh, he is just over thirty, tetraplegic, and since 2023 has been living with about a thousand electrodes implanted in his brain, which allow him to turn the electrical signals generated by his thoughts into computer commands.

In this way, Arbaugh can, for example, control the mouse pointer on the screen, as well as compose sentences to write messages and emails. Moreover, the speed with which Neuralink acquires and processes brain impulses also allows him to play video games: essentially, Arbaugh imagines holding a game controller and pressing its buttons, and Musk’s technology does the rest.

Neuralink and the case of Noland Arbaugh

Arbaugh applied to participate in the experimental phase of Neuralink in an attempt to overcome the deadlock caused by his physical condition, which had lasted for several years. However, the chances of something going wrong were quite high, especially due to Neuralink’s approach, which is more invasive compared to that of other companies researching brain implants.

Musk has nevertheless stated that Neuralink adopts a much more cautious strategy than his other companies, such as SpaceX and Tesla, which are known for a greater risk appetite when it comes to experimenting with new technologies.

Pros and cons of Neuralink

Neuralink electrodes are extremely small, with a diameter smaller than a hair, and can therefore be inserted deeper into the brain than other implants. Moreover, they are much more flexible. However, these same characteristics can also lead to some drawbacks, as Arbaugh himself experienced.

In the spring of 2024, four months after the surgery, about 85% of the electrodes implanted in his brain had in fact disconnected due to lower-than-expected adhesion. Neuralink technicians intervened by reconfiguring the implant to keep it operational and prevent Arbaugh from having to undergo surgery again.

How Neuralink is doing today

Eighteen months after the implantation, Neuralink continues to work for Arbaugh, albeit with some fluctuations in performance. Meanwhile, eight other people – all with forms of paralysis due to trauma or disease – have received an implant as part of clinical trials conducted in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, necessary to obtain regulatory approvals and make the new implants available once the experimental phase is completed.

The nine people living with a Neuralink brain implant are being closely monitored by research groups and industry experts, who observe their progress to evaluate the potential of a technology that could, in the future, improve the lives of thousands – if not millions – of patients with paralysis.