Patient speaks about possibilities gained by the chip implanted in his brain

The first person with an implant from Neuralink, Nolan Arbaugh, reported that the device's efficiency continues to improve despite some electrodes detaching from his brain, as reported by RIA Novosti.

Seven years ago, he became paralyzed after an accident. In January 2024, Arbaugh became the first person to be tested with Neuralink's Telepathy brain implant. This implant allows control of a smartphone or computer through thought and is primarily intended for people who have lost the ability to move their limbs. In March, Arbaugh demonstrated how he plays chess using thought alone.

“At the beginning of the implant’s operation, I noticed a decrease in its effectiveness, but after adjustments, there has been a steady increase,” Arbaugh said.

In May, after a successful operation and initial test results, the company reported that the microwires with electrodes transmitting the patient's brain signals had detached from Arbaugh's brain with only “about 15% of the electrodes currently working.” He noted that even with such a small number of electrodes, he can do much more than at the beginning of the experiment when the number of active electrodes was higher. “It’s just incredible,” he added.

Arbaugh expressed hope that the next participant in the experiment will be able to activate 90-100% of the electrode threads, which will open up new possibilities. “This gives hope for the future,” he said.

On July 16, 2019, a presentation was held where businessman Elon Musk and the Neuralink team showcased the results of their two-year work on future technologies — brain-machine interfaces. The N1 chip was unveiled.