Neuralink expands global search for brain-chip trial participants

Elon Musk's Neuralink is seeking individuals worldwide to participate in clinical trials for its brain-computer interface technology, which enables users to control devices using their thoughts.

The company is targeting quadriplegic patients, particularly those with spinal cord injuries or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), to test its implant as part of the Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface (PRIME) study.

Neuralink’s brain chip, called “the Link,” works by recording and decoding neural activity, allowing users to interact with computers or smartphones.

The device, approximately the size of a coin, is surgically implanted into the skull with microscopic wires that detect neuron signals and transmit them wirelessly.

Neuralink aims to develop this technology to assist individuals with neurological impairments and potentially provide advanced capabilities in the future.

The PRIME study, expected to span six years, has already enrolled three quadriplegic patients who are testing the device.

One participant, Noland Arbaugh, reported no physical or psychological side effects after a year of use.

Arbaugh demonstrated the chip’s capabilities by controlling a computer cursor to play chess and surf the web.

He stated that the device has profoundly improved his life, enabling him to work as a keynote speaker and perform daily tasks online.

“It’s only a matter of time before the implant is in dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of people,” Arbaugh said in a March 28 post on X.

Neuralink received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human trials in May 2023 after addressing safety concerns raised during earlier applications.

Despite this milestone, experts caution that widespread adoption will require overcoming technical and ethical challenges.

Kip Ludwig, a former NIH program director for neural engineering, optimistically estimates it could take another decade for commercial availability.

Neuralink joins other organisations in advancing brain-computer interface technology.

Competitors like Synchron have already implanted devices in patients, while researchers in Switzerland have enabled paralysed individuals to walk using similar systems.

As Neuralink continues its trials, its progress may redefine treatment options for neurological conditions and pave the way for broader applications of brain-computer interfaces globally.