Neuralink’s first human patient has spoken out about how the groundbreaking technology has transformed his life.
Noland Arbaugh, 29, is the first person to have a brain implant fitted.
The young man was paralyzed from the neck down after a ‘freak diving accident’ eight years ago.
But his new Neuralink has allowed him to appreciate the activities he used to do, like video games.
According to Capital Technology University, the implant uses ‘thin, flexible threads equipped with 1,024 electrodes that capture the activity of neurons’.
Neurons are nerve cells that transmit messages throughout the body, enabling practically all human activity.
The institution elaborates on its website: “The coin-sized gadget is powered by an innovative bespoke chip within the implant that interprets these signals and delivers them to a digital device via a conventional Bluetooth connection — a novel step in BCI research.
“Surgical robots meticulously weave these threads into the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for the brain’s higher-level processes like learning and emotion, to ensure precise placement of the electrodes.”
Arbaugh had the gadget installed in January, as confirmed by company founder Elon Musk, but his name was not known until now.
Arbaugh tweeted a video of a speech he gave at the Neuralink headquarters ‘a few weeks back’ over the weekend.
READ MORE: Elon Musk Claims Neuralink Implanted A Wireless Brain Chip
In the hour-long video, Arbaugh delivered a favorable evaluation of his life-changing new brain implant and shared facts about his life since having it installed.
The 29-year-old told Neuralink employees, “It makes being paralyzed actually not that horrible.
“Anything that makes me more independent I’m all for and this is probably going to make people like me the most independent that they might ever be until it all gets cured – and I think that’s a very real possibility.”
Neuralink was gracious enough to let me tour their headquarters a few weeks ago. It was an incredible experience and a day I will never forget. This occurred during a company-wide meeting at the conclusion of the day. Thank you to everyone who made this happen. I hope you all enjoy!
“What you all are doing is just going to change the world,” Arbaugh later remarked.
“It’s going to change how people like me are able to just live their lives.”
Arbaugh stated that the procedure was ‘simple’.
He expected a lengthy recovery period, yet he was discharged only a day later.
Along with his remarks, the 29-year-old gave a presentation about the first month of his life after surgery.
In one video, he was seen playing Mario Kart alongside his father.
Arbaugh also revealed that since having his Neuralink implanted, he has played hours of chess and stayed up late playing Civilization VI.
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