Elon Musk's Neuralink Brain Implant Overcomes First Major Malfunction. Here's What Went Down

Neuralink's threads connecting the implant to the subject's brain experienced retraction, subsequently affecting the patient's ability to manipulate the cursor effectively.

Neuralink, the pioneering brain implant company backed by Elon Musk, announced a significant breakthrough in rectifying a recent setback concerning its first patient's ability to control a computer cursor. Noland Arbaugh, a quadriplegic for eight years following a diving accident, underwent a revolutionary brain implant procedure conducted by Musk's neurotechnology venture in January.

What Went Wrong?

The procedure involved the insertion of a brain implant, described as the size of five stacked coins, directly into Arbaugh's brain through invasive surgery. This implant, equipped with threads crucial for collecting neural signals, aimed to restore Arbaugh's mobility and functionality. Following the successful operation, Arbaugh reported engaging in various activities such as playing chess, navigating video games like "Civilization," and even pursuing language lessons in Japanese and French, all facilitated by controlling a computer cursor solely with his mind.

However, a recent setback occurred when Neuralink observed a decline in the efficiency of the implanted device. According to a recent company blog post, the threads connecting the implant to Arbaugh's brain experienced retraction, resulting in a reduction in the number of effective electrodes and subsequently affecting the patient's ability to manipulate the cursor effectively.

What Modifications Were Made?

Although Neuralink did not provide a specific reason for this occurrence, the company swiftly implemented modifications to enhance the sensitivity of the implant to neural signals.

These modifications, coupled with other enhancements, led to a rapid and sustained improvement in the device's performance, surpassing Arbaugh's initial capabilities. The initial decline in efficiency was initially reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Neuralink, established by Musk in 2016, aims to revolutionise communication between the human brain and computers. Beyond facilitating basic tasks, the company envisions a future where such technology could augment human capabilities, offer solutions for neurological disorders like ALS and Parkinson's disease, and potentially pave the way for a symbiotic relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

While Neuralink's endeavours spearheaded by Musk are at the forefront of brain-machine interface research, they are not the only players in this burgeoning field. Several other organizations and researchers are actively exploring similar advancements, indicating the growing significance and potential of this field of science and technology.