San Francisco, CA – Neuralink, the ambitious neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk, is grappling with significant issues in its first human trials of the brain-computer interface (BCI) implants. An estimated 85 per cent of the implant threads in the initial human subject, Noland Arbaugh, have detached from the motor cortex, resulting in unexpected brain movement, The Wall Street Journal reports. Despite these setbacks, a recent software update has reportedly improved the device’s performance beyond its original capabilities.
Neuralink’s N1 BCI implant, roughly the size of a coin, uses 64 ultra-thin wires inserted a few millimetres into the motor cortex. Each wire houses 16 electrodes that translate neural activity into computer commands, such as typing or cursor movements. However, around 870 of the 1024 electrodes in Arbaugh’s implant ceased functioning shortly after the surgery. This problem took several weeks to address, raising concerns about the implant’s reliability and the overall safety of the procedure.
Arbaugh expressed his concerns to Neuralink about the possibility of removing, fixing, or replacing the implant. However, Neuralink’s medical team preferred to avoid another brain surgery and instead opted to gather more data from the malfunctioning implant. In response to the performance issues, Neuralink issued an over-the-air software update that significantly enhanced the implant’s sensitivity to neural signals, improved the translation of these signals into cursor movements, and refined the user interface.
“These refinements produced a rapid and sustained improvement in BPS [bits-per-second], that has now superseded Noland’s initial performance,” Neuralink stated in a recent update. The company provided a data graph to support these claims but did not offer additional citations. This improvement comes despite the apparent functionality of only about nine or ten of the original 64 threads remaining intact, as reported by The Register.
Arbaugh’s post-surgery complications highlight long-standing concerns about the implant’s potential to move within the skull, a risk Neuralink engineers have reportedly been aware of for years. The company’s documentation suggests that a potential solution to the wire retraction issue might involve inserting the threads deeper into the brain.
Despite the challenges, interest in Neuralink’s PRIME Study remains high, with approximately 1,000 people applying to participate. However, less than ten per cent of applicants qualify for the trial. Neuralink aims to perform nine more implant surgeries by the end of the year, with the second procedure scheduled for June.
Neuralink acknowledged in an update earlier this year that the PRIME Study is still in its early stages, stating, “We plan to provide additional updates as we continue to work with our first participant, as well as other participants in the future.” Each update includes a disclaimer, “We do not guarantee any benefit by participating in the PRIME Study.”
As Neuralink continues its groundbreaking work, the balance between innovation and safety remains critical. The outcomes of these early trials will likely shape the future of brain-computer interface technology and its potential applications in treating neurological disorders and augmenting human capabilities.
