Neuralink's First Human Recipient Enthusiastically Responds: 'My Right Brain Wants In Too'

Source: Cailian Press

On Thursday (June 20) local time, Elon Musk stated that he had discussed potential next-generation brain-computer interface devices with Noland Arbaugh, the first Neuralink trial participant.

Musk wrote that the next-generation version of Neuralink will allow Arbo’s other hemisphere to interact telepathically with his computer, “much like having two-handed control, equivalent to a mouse and keyboard.”

Arbo also expressed his excitement, responding, “It’s perfect; his right hemisphere has been jealous of the left one lately.” He further remarked, “I’d even agree to replacing the entire head with a massive Neuralink device.”

In the 1960s, American psychobiologist Roger Sperry discovered that severing the connections between the left and right hemispheres in epilepsy patients could alleviate symptoms, leading to the finding that the two cerebral hemispheres are responsible for different bodily functions.

The left hemisphere of the human brain is primarily responsible for rational cognitive activities such as logic, writing, language, analysis, numerical processing, and reasoning, while the right hemisphere is mainly in charge of perceptual and emotional processes including imagery, music, rhythm, emotion, imagination, and creativity. For this work, Sperry was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1981.

Abo, 29, is Neuralink’s first human trial participant; he was left quadriplegic after a spinal cord injury sustained in an accidental diving incident eight years ago.

This January, Arbo underwent Neuralink implant surgery. In the weeks following the procedure, he was able to control his laptop and play the fast-paced racing game Mario Kart using only his thoughts.

According to media reports, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Neuralink’s application to implant its brain chip in a second human subject, with the procedure scheduled to take place sometime in June.

Currently, more than 1,000 patients with quadriplegia have expressed willingness to participate in Neuralink’s clinical trials, but fewer than 100 patients are eligible for the study. The company plans to implant its chips in more than 22,000 individuals by 2030.

Arbo once stated, “Once you try using it, you can’t stop. It amazed me.” However, last month, Neuralink revealed on its official website that Arbo’s device had experienced a mechanical failure, with some wires becoming detached, resulting in partial data loss.

However, the good news is that this flaw was not significant enough to require Neuralink to redesign its device. The FDA approved the company’s remedial plan, which involves implanting some of the device’s ultra-fine wires deeper into the brain to mitigate issues such as wire detachment.

Coincidentally, earlier in the day, Paradromics, a competitor of Neuralink, also announced plans to conduct human trials next year. The company claimed that its product, “Connexus DDI,” could deliver higher bandwidth and faster data transmission rates.

Last weekend, Musk replied on social media, stating, “There will be no more phones in the future, only Neuralink.” He added that Neuralink could enable humans to communicate without using language and potentially achieve a state of “symbiosis” with artificial intelligence (AI).

Responsible Editor: Li Tong