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The initial brain implant placed by Neuralink in a human encountered issues after a few weeks. Several wires from the implant have detached from the patient's brain.
Neuralink, a company founded by Elon Musk, specializes in constructing flexible electrodes that are implanted deep within the human brain. These electrodes facilitate communication between the brain and a computer. The implant comprises 1024 electrodes connected by 64 extremely slender 'wires' through which neural signals are transmitted. The primary goal is to aid individuals who have lost the ability to use their limbs in communicating more effectively with the outside world. In January, the first implant was surgically implanted in the brain of a human. The recipient, a 29-year-old man named Nolan Arbaugh, had been paralyzed from the shoulders down as a result of an accident. In March, Neuralink released a video showcasing Arbaugh playing chess using the implant. However, complications arose a few weeks later. Some of the wires had detached from Arbaugh's brain, resulting in less effective electrodes, as stated by Neuralink in a blog post. This has diminished the speed and accuracy with which Arbaugh can manipulate a cursor on a computer. Neuralink did not specify the number of wires that had detached or the extent of the impact.
In order to maintain the efficacy of the implant, Neuralink has made modifications to the recording algorithm and enhanced the user interface. Efforts have also been made to refine the techniques used to translate signals into mouse movements. These enhancements have significantly boosted speed and accuracy. According to Neuralink, the results surpass those of the initial tests.
While The Wall Street Journal reported considerations of removing the implant, the issue does not pose an immediate threat to Arbaugh's safety or health. Neuralink has not responded to this report.
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