Neuralink Launches Human Trial Recruitment for Brain-Computer Interface

Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface (BCI) startup, is making strides in its quest to connect human brains with computers. The company is now actively recruiting participants for its first human trial, with a focus on individuals who experience paralysis. Neuralink’s groundbreaking technology aims to empower these individuals to control a computer cursor or type using their thoughts alone. Although other companies have already ventured into implanting BCIs in humans, Neuralink achieved a significant milestone by securing approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its human clinical trial in May.

The FDA’s approval marked a crucial milestone for Neuralink, given the challenges it had previously encountered in obtaining regulatory clearance. In response to the FDA’s green light, Neuralink expressed its vision, stating that this approval was “an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people.”

While the precise number of participants in the trial has not been disclosed, Neuralink initially sought approval to implant its devices in ten people, as revealed by former and current employees interviewed by Reuters. The trial, which spans over six years, commences with the assistance of a robot, surgically implanting 64 flexible threads, each thinner than a human hair, into the part of the brain that governs “movement intention.” These threads facilitate Neuralink’s experimental N1 implant, powered by a wirelessly rechargeable battery, to record and transmit brain signals wirelessly to an app that deciphers the individual’s intentions for movement.

The trial’s eligibility criteria include individuals with quadriplegia due to injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a condition characterized by the degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain.

Notably, while Elon Musk’s involvement in Neuralink certainly brings attention to the venture, the field of BCIs has witnessed the presence of other players with a substantial history dating back nearly two decades. For instance, Blackrock Neurotech, based in Utah, began implanting BCIs as early as 2004. Additionally, Precision Neuroscience, established by one of Neuralink’s co-founders, also focuses on assisting individuals with paralysis. Their implant, resembling an ultra-thin piece of tape placed on the brain’s surface, can be implanted via a “cranial micro-slit,” which they claim is a simpler and less invasive procedure.

Moreover, existing BCI devices have already demonstrated their potential. Recent scientific studies in the United States utilized implants to monitor brain activity when individuals attempted to speak, allowing for the decoding of brain signals to facilitate communication.

Dr. Adrien Rapeaux, a research associate in the Neural Interfaces Lab at Imperial College London, offered insights into Neuralink’s advantages, particularly in the context of implantation. He mentioned that Neuralink’s robotic assistance during the procedure provides an edge. However, Dr. Rapeaux, who is also a co-founder of the neural implant startup Mintneuro, highlighted that it remains uncertain whether Neuralink’s method of translating brain signals into actionable outcomes outperforms that of competitors like Blackrock Neurotech. Additionally, the long-term accuracy and reliability of Neuralink’s technology is still an open question, as it has been a known challenge within the field.

The ongoing development in the field of BCIs, spearheaded by companies like Neuralink, holds promise for those who have lost their ability to communicate and interact with the world due to paralysis or neurological conditions. These advancements could potentially open up new avenues for enhancing the quality of life for those affected.