On January 29 local time, Elon Musk (Elon Musk) inX(posted on [former] Twitter) that the startup he foundedNeuralink, the first brain chip has been implanted in a human body, and the patient is "recovering well."“Preliminary results indicate that neuronal spike detection is promising.”Elon MuskSpeak.Figure | Elon Musk (Elon Musk) Screenshot of the tweet released (Source:X）“The firstNeuralinkThe product is called “Telepathy.”MuskInXAs stated above, “The initial users will be those who have lost their limbs.“Imagine if Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a typist or an auctioneer. That’s the goal.”It is evident that this breakthrough marks a significant milestone for the company in achieving its goal of enabling humans to control computers with their thoughts.However, as of now,NeuralinkNo further details have been provided regarding this development.Kip Ludwig, Co-Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (Kip Ludwig) pointed out: “MuskThe “preliminary results” mean that the company is acquiring recordings from patients’ brains.Brain-computer interface technology has been studied by scientists in related fields for decades.Neuralink is a company in this field that has already garnered widespread attention.In recent years, the company has primarily focused on developing a small brain implant that enables paralyzed patients to control computers or mobile devices through brain activity anytime and anywhere.In other words, if this initiative succeeds, patients suffering from severe neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) will be able to restore their ability to communicate with family and friends by moving a cursor and typing via thought control.In addition, scientists also believe that one day in the future, brain-computer interfaces may help treat blindness and neurological disorders.Muskhas publicly stated: “HopeNeuralink These future use cases, as well as potential applications in healthy populations, can be explored.”To this end, the company has conducted extensive “brain chip” testing on animals such as mice, sheep, pigs, and monkeys over the past few years.MuskVideos of monkeys playing table tennis and playing computer games with their brains have also been shared.However, it must be pointed out that this action has also drawn criticism from some animal rights organizations due to suspected animal cruelty.For example, in early 2022, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine filed a complaint against the company for conducting "invasive and lethal brain experiments" on animals.In response to this serious allegation,Neuralink launched a counterattack, claiming that the company has always adopted the most humane and ethical approach in its work with animals.May 2023,Neuralink Announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence its first-in-human clinical study.The company inXstated in a tweet posted on : “This isNeuralink “This incredible achievement, the result of close collaboration between our team and the FDA, marks an important first step toward a future where our technology will be able to help many people.”Figure |NeuralinkAnnounced FDA Approval (Source:X）By September 2023,Neuralink Officially launching recruitment for participants in the first human implantation trial.According toNeuralink According to the official website, the PRIME (Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) study primarily targets patients aged 22 and older with quadriplegia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It involves implanting a small, invisibly appearing device into the brain region that controls motor intent, to decode participants’ neural activity.It is understood that the experiment will last approximately six years, with the initial goal of assessing the safety of the implants and surgical robots, and testing the preliminary functionality of the brain-computer interface in enabling quadriplegic patients to control external devices using their thoughts.However, the company did not specify how many participants would be enrolled in the trial. According to company employees, Neuralink Corp had previously sought FDA approval to implant the device in 10 patients, but due to safety concerns raised by the agency, both parties are currently discussing a reduction in the number of patients receiving implants.As mentioned above, the first human clinical trial is currently underway, which may helpNeuralink Identify methods for safer and more effective implantation and use of brain-computer interfaces, thereby potentially restoring and enhancing multiple functions, including computer control.“The company’s short-term goal is to establish a universal brain interface and restore autonomy for individuals with neurological decline and unmet medical needs.”Neuralink Co-founder and Vice President of Engineering, Dongjin Seo (Dongjin Seo) told the media, “In fact, the long-term goal is to make it accessible to billions of people, unlocking human potential and transcending our biological capabilities.”However, it must be pointed out that even if the company can demonstrate through human trials that brain-computer interface devices are safe for humans, this startup may still take more than a decade to obtain the relevant commercial use permits.References:
https://twitter.com/elonmusk
https://neuralink.com/patient-registry/
https://twitter.com/neuralink
https://neurosciencenews.com/neuralink-human-implant-22542/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/29/elon-musk-neuralink-first-human-brain-chip-implant
https://nypost.com/2024/01/29/business/elon-musks-neuralink-implants-brain-chip-in-first-human/
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/recovering-well-elon-musk-s-neuralink-implants-its-first-brain-chip-in-human-1.6747277
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/elon-musk-announces-neuralinks-successful-brain-implant-procedure-in-first-human-recipient/articleshow/107244016.cms?from=mdr
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/elon-musks-neuralink-implants-brain-chip-in-first-human-patient-all-you-need-to-know-about-telepathy-11706576150063.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/25/elon-musks-neuralink-gets-fda-approval-for-in-human-study.html
https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-neuralink-first-human-brain-implant/
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/17/business/elon-musk-neuralink-animal-cruelty-intl-scli/index.html
Operations/Typesetting: He Chenlong
