Elon Musk announced that a third individual has received a brain implant from Neuralink, his brain-computer interface company, which is one of several organisations striving to connect the nervous system with machines, reports AP.
“We've got ... three humans with Neuralinks and all are working well,” Musk stated during an expansive interview at a Las Vegas event broadcast on his social media platform, X.
First human received implant from Neuralink, Elon Musk says
Since the first brain implant roughly a year ago, Musk said Neuralink has enhanced its devices with additional electrodes, increased bandwidth, and longer battery life. He added that the company aims to implant these experimental devices in 20 to 30 more individuals this year.
While Musk did not share specifics about the most recent patient, updates on previous recipients were provided. The second recipient, who has a spinal cord injury and received the implant last summer, has been using the device to play video games and learn computer-aided design software to create 3-D objects. Similarly, the first patient, also paralysed due to a spinal cord injury, described using the implant to play video games and chess.
Despite the attention Neuralink garners, numerous other companies and research institutions are advancing similar projects. For instance, two studies published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine highlighted how brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) improved communication for individuals with ALS.
Who is working on brain-computer interface technology?
Currently, over 45 brain-computer interface trials are listed in a U.S. database of studies, targeting applications such as treating brain disorders, addressing brain injuries, and other uses.
Rajesh Rao, co-director of the Centre for Neurotechnology at the University of Washington, noted that many research labs have already demonstrated that BCIs can enable humans to control computer cursors with high accuracy. Neuralink, however, stands out for two reasons: it is the first to use a robot to implant flexible electrode threads into the human brain, and these threads may record neural activity from more neurons compared to other interfaces.
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Nonetheless, Rao explained that the advantages of Neuralink's approach remain unproven, and some competitors have surpassed the company in other areas. For instance, companies like Synchron, Blackrock Neurotech, and Onward Medical are conducting trials using either less invasive methods or more versatile techniques that integrate neural recording and stimulation.
What are the benefits of BCIs?
Marco Baptista, chief scientific officer at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, described BCI technology as “very exciting” with significant potential for individuals with paralysis.
Through clinical trials, Baptista expects clearer insights into the most effective approaches, though he believes it’s still too early to determine which will prevail. While his foundation supports various research teams financially and with expert guidance, it has not provided funding to Neuralink.
“We need to really support high-risk, high-reward endeavours. This is clearly high-risk, high-reward. We don’t know how safe it’s going to be. We don’t know how feasible it’s going to be," Baptista said.
How are BCIs tested and regulated?
Neuralink announced in 2023 that it had secured approval from U.S. regulators to begin human trials.
For high-risk medical devices that require pre-market approval, developers must obtain an “investigational device exemption” from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), explained Dr. Rita Redberg, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who specialises in high-risk devices. Neuralink claims to have this exemption, but the FDA has not confirmed details about specific studies.
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Redberg noted that the FDA oversees all stages of the process, including patient recruitment, device testing, and data analysis, with a primary focus on safety. Additionally, she highlighted the role of institutional review boards (IRBs), which evaluate the ethical aspects of research involving humans. These boards ensure that risks and benefits are reasonable and that participants are fully informed before enrolling.
IRBs, also known as ethical review boards or independent ethics committees, must include at least one non-scientist and a member unaffiliated with the organisation conducting the research. Redberg emphasised their responsibility to safeguard participants by ensuring transparency and informed consent.