According to experts, when a chip malfunctions, the person with the chip may experience emotions similar to those felt during their first accident.
On the surface of Noland Arbaugh’s brain lies a chip along with a series of small electrodes. However, the first person to use Neuralink’s brain-computer interface revealed that he does not feel inconvenienced by wearing the brain chip 24/7. He stated that if he had no memory of the surgery, he wouldn’t even know that he had a chip in his brain.
Mr. Arbaugh underwent surgery last January and is the first to test the Neuralink N1 implant chip.
“Suppose I lost my memory and woke up, and you told me I had something directly attached to my brain, I wouldn’t believe you,” the 30-year-old man, who has been paralyzed from the neck down for eight years, responded during an interview. “I don’t feel it – I can’t perceive it unless someone directly presses on it.”
He shared that the chip developed by Elon Musk’s company has transformed his life, allowing him to “reconnect with the world.” Although brain-computer interface (BCI) technology has existed for a long time, it is only now, thanks to Neuralink’s breakthroughs and successful trials on Noland Arbaugh, that the public is beginning to realize the potential of BCI. This technology could help individuals with disabilities or neurological disorders improve their quality of life.
Live interview with a quadriplegic patient using Neuralink’s brain chip.
A BCI device records the electrical signals of the brain and translates them into actions, subsequently transmitting signals to peripheral devices such as robotic arms or personal computers. Current BCI models vary in design, level of invasiveness into the brain, and the clarity of the signals read.
Some BCIs take the form of head-mounted devices that read signals through the skull. Others are placed on the brain’s surface to monitor electrical signals. Neuralink’s device, however, is implanted directly into brain tissue to get as close as possible to the neurons.
Neuralink is not the first organization to test such BCI devices. The technology was first proposed by Richard Normann in the 1990s, and by 2004, Matthew Nagle became the first person to successfully use a BCI to control a computer cursor.
Nonetheless, Neuralink is the first to integrate all significant BCI advancements into a wireless device.
Life of Arbaugh After the Implant
Approximately one month after the surgery, Mr. Arbaugh’s implant suddenly stopped functioning. After a process of “maintenance”, Neuralink’s engineering team discovered that this was a hardware failure: about 85% of the chip’s flow was unresponsive. “It’s hard to imagine,” Mr. Arbaugh said upon discovering that the chip had ceased to function. “I just felt so excited, and then after a month, it felt like everything collapsed.”
Neuralink N1 Chip – (Photo: Neuralink).
According to Douglas Weber, a mechanical engineer and neuroscientist at Carnegie Mellon University, disappointment and anxiety are significant risks in BCI research. “Just imagine the pressures that arise when experiencing a spinal cord injury for the first time, and then having to go through it again,” Weber analyzed.
Through algorithm adjustments, Neuralink’s research team restored functionality to the chip, allowing Mr. Arbaugh to perform the video demo shown above.
However, Neuralink has yet to publish any scientific documentation regarding the brain chip project involving Mr. Noland Arbaugh. Experts suggest that this could hinder the progress of BCI research.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Neuralink’s new plan, allowing them to proceed with implanting a chip in another person. Neuralink intends to address the issues encountered with Mr. Arbaugh’s chip by implanting it deeper into the brain: this time, the chip will be inserted up to 8 mm deep, while previously it was only inserted 3-5 mm deep.
Mr. Arbaugh’s life significantly improved thanks to Neuralink – (Photo: Bloomberg).
As for Mr. Arbaugh, he is not too upset about his chip malfunctioning. In his view, his experience will help improve the technology for future users. As BCI technology advances, a brain implant could provide movement capabilities for individuals with limb disabilities or restore vision for those with visual impairments.
Noland Arbaugh is happy to be the first to be tested and is very excited about the future that Neuralink offers to the next test subjects.
