The first patient to have a Neuralink chip implanted in their brain, a quadriplegic named Noland Arbaugh, recently shared his experience nearly two months after the surgery. Arbaugh, who became paralyzed from below the shoulders eight years ago due to a diving accident, underwent surgery in late January to have a quarter-size chip implanted in his brain.
During a livestream with Neuralink, Arbaugh demonstrated how he can now use his mind to perform tasks such as playing chess on his computer and pausing music with his brain. He also mentioned playing the video game Civilization VI for eight hours straight after receiving the implant, expressing his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity.
Arbaugh described the surgery as 'super easy' and reported no cognitive impairments post-surgery. While he has encountered some issues with the new technology, he emphasized that the chip has already changed his life significantly.
Neuralink, which received FDA approval to conduct the brain chip study on humans in May 2023, began recruiting participants in September. The chip, equipped with dozens of tiny threadlike electrodes, was placed in the part of the brain that controls movement.
Despite previous accusations of violating the Animal Welfare Act, Neuralink was cleared of any violations by the Agriculture Department in December 2022, except for a self-reported incident in 2019. Arbaugh expressed his belief that Neuralink's technology has the potential to change the world and is optimistic about the future advancements in the field.
