SAN FRANCISCO, USA – In a groundbreaking development in the field of neurotechnology, the first recipient of a Neuralink implant is now able to play popular video games like Slay the Spire and Old School RuneScape using his neural signals.
Neuralink, a company founded by Elon Musk, recently provided an update on the progress of the implant, revealing that some of the electrode-bearing threads had retracted from the patient’s brain. This led to a temporary decrease in the performance of the brain-computer interface (BCI).
The recipient of the implant, 29-year-old American quadriplegic Noland Arbaugh, had the device implanted as part of the Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface (PRIME) study. Despite suffering from paralysis below the shoulders due to a diving accident eight years ago, Arbaugh now has the ability to control his cursor and play games using only his mind, a significant improvement from relying on a mouth stick.
Following the surgery, during which a specialized robot inserted ultra-fine electrode-bearing threads into Arbaugh’s brain, the patient has been able to use the interface for various activities, including surfing the internet, learning languages, and playing a range of video games. Most notably, Arbaugh has set a new world record for human BCI cursor control by achieving a speed of 8.0 bits-per-second.
While the retraction of some electrode-bearing threads posed a challenge for the Neuralink team, they were able to adjust the algorithm to maintain the device’s performance. Moving forward, the company aims to enhance Arbaugh’s cursor control and introduce new functionality that could enable users to control external aides like robotic arms and wheelchairs.
The development of this technology opens doors for individuals with physical disabilities to gain greater autonomy and engage in activities previously limited to them. As Neuralink continues its journey towards human trials, the potential impact of this innovation on the field of neurotechnology remains promising.