- Neuralink faces setback in first human trial due to issues with brain implant wires.
- Company reportedly aware of these issues for years, FDA informed based on animal testing results.
- Despite setbacks, first patient able to perform tasks like playing video games through thought alone.
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-machine interface company, recently encountered setbacks in its first human trial, with the brain implant’s tiny wires retracting from a patient’s brain during the initial phase. According to a Reuters report, the company was aware of these issues for years, sharing its animal testing results with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Despite initial rejections from the FDA over safety concerns, Neuralink proceeded with human testing after additional animal trials.
The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, received the brain implant in January, experiencing some wires retracting from his brain post-surgery. However, no adverse health effects were reported, and Arbaugh has since demonstrated the ability to play video games, browse the internet, and control a computer cursor using his thoughts alone. While Neuralink has faced challenges, including cases of brain inflammation in implanted pigs, the company maintains that the device and wires were not the cause, pushing forward in its mission to revolutionize neural technology.
