Elon Musk’s brain chip startup Neuralink has announced a major milestone – the first human patient has received one of its brain implants. According to a post by Musk on Monday, the initial results from the implant show “promising neuron spike detection.” Neuron spikes refer to activity from brain cells that transmit information.
The implant was given clearance for human trials by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year. This marks a critical step forward for Neuralink’s goal of helping patients with paralysis and other neurological conditions. The company received approval in September 2022 to recruit participants for the human trial.
The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2024
Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.
The study uses a robotic surgeon to place Neuralink’s brain-computer interface implant into the region of the test subject’s brain that controls intention to move. The startup says the implant’s thin threads help pick up signals from the brain. The first Neuralink product will be called Telepathy, enabling thought-control of computers.
While a promising advancement, Neuralink has faced scrutiny over safety issues. Earlier this month it was reported the company violated hazardous materials transportation rules and was fined. In November, lawmakers asked the SEC to investigate whether Musk misled investors on the safety record, after reports that animal test subjects experienced issues like paralysis. Musk has stated that terminal animals were chosen to minimize risk.
The patient is reportedly recovering well after Sunday’s procedure. But full details remain limited as Neuralink has yet to respond to requests for comment on the recent milestone.