Neuralink is just one of Elon Musk's companies, but it has also gathered significant attention due to how it operates and what it's supposed to accomplish. The company has recently started opening up enrollments for the first human BCI implants.
Neuralink First Human BCI Implants to be Limited to Specific Individuals
According to the story by Engadget, the opening position for the first human BCI implants is limited to only very specific individuals. So far, a statement has been shared inviting quadriplegias interested in the project.
As per the statement, the company invites people with quadriplegia who want to explore different ways of controlling their computers. These are the first individuals who qualify for getting the implants.
As announced by Elon Musk's Neuralink, it was noted that the company has opened enrolment to its first ever in-human study. The study would be called PRIME, or Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface.
The Update Comes About a Year After the Company's 'Show and Tell' Event and Behind Its Rival, Synchron
The news comes just about a year after Neuralink reportedly launched a "show and tell" event. This also comes four months beyond the initial timeframe that Musk said the trials would begin.
The announcement also comes about a month after Synchron, its rival, has already started trials and beaten Neuralink to the market, as highlighted in an article by Business Wire. The company announcement highlighted how the PRIME study was designed to evaluate the safety of its implants, which are dubbed N1, as well as the surgical robot, which is dubbed R1.
Goal of BCI Explained Revealing Potential Functions for People with Paralysis
Another goal is to assess the initial functionality of the user's BCI when it comes to enabling people regarding paralysis. They aim to be able to control certain external devices with the simple use of their thoughts alone.
The study was designed for people with quadriplegia due to injuries from their cervical spinal cord. The qualifications also apply to individuals with quadriplegia caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Elon Musk Suggests Other Uses for the Technology
This was despite Elon Musk's claims that the technology could be useful for things like transhumanistic applications. Previously, Musk shared how the tech could be used for things like learning Kung Fu directly from an SD card.
Other things that were previously noted were uploading the user's consciousness online as well as controlling different types of household electronics directly from their mind. Despite these statements, it was noted that these weren't the actual objectives of both companies.
BCIs Operate to Bridge the Gap Between Machines and the Human Mind
The article describes how BCIs operate as a way to bridge the gap between machines and the human mind. This is done by converting the analog electrical signals directly from the user's brain into certain digital signals that machines can understand.
The Neuralink N1 system uses a high-fidelity Utah Array of probes as thin as hair, which differs from the Stentrode by Synchron.
