The Neuralink chip has been implanted into a human brain for the first time

American engineer, entrepreneur, and billionaire Elon Musk's company Neuralink has implanted its Telepathy chip into the human brain for the first time. Neuralink is a neurotechnology startup that has been developing devices to treat brain diseases since 2017.

According to Elon Musk himself, the initial results after the chip implantation show promising neuronal activity. The implant allows people with paralysis and other neurological diseases to use computers.

How did Elon Musk realize Neuralink's ambitions?

The first patient who received the chip is recovering from surgery and is already feeling well," Musk shared on social media. At the same time, the founder of Neuralink emphasized that the implant is successfully functioning, recording brain activity.

"Initial results show promising detection of neuronal spikes," Musk said. Spikes are the activity of neurons: cells that use electrical and chemical signals to send information through the brain to the body.

Neuralink first received permission from the FDA to test the chip on humans in May last year. This was the starting point for the startup's ambition to help patients overcome paralysis and many other neurological diseases.

The power of thought: the possibilities of the Telepathy chip for patients with paralysis

Since the creation of the Neuralink startup, Elon Musk has repeatedly said that the initial goal of implanting a chip in the human brain is to enable patients with paralysis and other neurological diseases to control a computer cursor or keyboard with the power of thought.

In the study, experts used a robot to surgically place the Telepathy implant in the area of the brain that controls limb movement.

Thanks to electrodes, the chip reads the activity of the corresponding neurons when a person wants to move his or her hand to move the cursor on the monitor or type on the keyboard. The device transmits the information to the software on the computer, which analyzes the registered activity and uses it to move the cursor or output text.

The principle of the brain chip is not new and is being actively tested on humans by other laboratories, but this is the first test on a living person for Elon Musk's private company. Unlike most other implants, the Neuralink device is completely wireless.

It should be noted that Neuralink initially tested the chip on monkeys. Upon completion of the research, veterinary reports showed that the animals experienced seizures, paralysis, and brain swelling after the chip was implanted.

In view of this, the company was suspected of misleading investors about the safety of its technology, after which Elon Musk stated on a social network that "no monkey has died after receiving a Neuralink implant."