Revolutionary Brain-Chip: Triumph Over Malfunction

Prime Study Program Still on its Feet

A Brain-Chip by NeuralinkPhoto byNeuralink.com

The Elon Musk company, Neuralink is pioneering neurotechnology to amazing new heights. Their Prime Study Program uses advanced neuroscience designed to help people living with quadriplegia.

The N1 Brain Chip is a device that is implanted into a patient's skull and then connected through ultra-fine threads into the motor cortex of the brain using more than a thousand electrodes. This allows a person to move a cursor on a screen with their thoughts.

Researchers observe the chip's performance by measuring its speed and accuracy using a metric of bits per second. The higher the BPS - the stronger the signal - this produces better control of the cursor for the patient.

This groundbreaking technology was first used on Noland Arbaugh a 29-year-old man who became paralyzed from the shoulders down after a diving accident.

In January, Arbaugh was the first to receive a brain chip implant. The chip did malfunction a few weeks after the surgery when some of the threads retracted from the brain.

Neuralink says Arbaugh is in no danger, even though they did think about removing the chip. It was decided leave the chip in as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Musk announced on X May 8th, 2024 regarding the success of the surgery.

With a few adjustments, Neuralink says the chip is working even better than before. Arbaugh can play computer games, browse the internet, and livestream all using his thoughts says Neuralink. They also say his BPS is higher than before using a new algorithm.

“In response to this change, we modified the recording algorithm to be more sensitive to neural population signals, improved the techniques to translate these signals into cursor movements, and enhanced the user interface,” Neuralink said in the blog post.

Updated information can be found in a blog post by Elon Musk on X about the Neuralink Prime Study Program progress, May 8, 2024.

Our goal is to provide a high-performance interface that will enhance the control of digital devices for people with quadriplegia, unlocking their personal and professional potential. Elon Musk: Blog Post on Neuralink's Prime Study program. May 8th 2024

References:

• Business Insider - https://www.businessinsider.com/neuralink-weighed-removing-patient-brain-chip-implant-after-malfunction-report-2024-5
• NBC News - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna151443
• The Hill - https://thehill.com/policy/technology/4653848-first-human-brain-implant-malfunctioned-neuralink-says/