Elon Musk's company gets approval to implant brain chips in humans

The brain chip developed by Elon Musk's company Neuralink has been licensed for human testing after a series of animal experiments.

Musk expressed confidence in the safety of the brain chip developed by Neuralink. Photo: Punch — Musk expressed confidence in the safety of the brain chip developed by Neuralink. Photo: *Punch*

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted permission for the company Neuralink to conduct its first human trials, Live Science reported on June 2. Neuralink aims to use brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to restore movement in people with partial or complete paralysis of the limbs. Musk also said the brain implant could help restore vision to the blind.

Neurons, or nerve cells, communicate through electrical signals to coordinate human thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In theory, Neuralink's brain chip works by decoding electrical signals and transmitting coded information to a computer via Bluetooth. In the case of restoring movement, the computer would analyze the incoming information and respond by sending signals to the body, stimulating nerves and muscles to control movement.

The implant is inserted through a small hole in the skull created by a surgical robot, then the chip's electrodes are pinned a few millimeters deep into the outer layer of the brain. The procedure takes 30 minutes and does not require general anesthesia.

Neuralink isn’t the only company developing BCI technology. Synchron, for example, will implant its Stentrode system in its first patient in 2022 after receiving FDA approval for human testing. The device is designed to help paralyzed people control assistive technology through thought. Synchron also aims to restore movement to severely paralyzed people. Musk approached Synchron’s founder about a partnership just months before a federal investigation into Neuralink for alleged animal welfare violations.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) filed a complaint in February 2022 accusing Neuralink surgeons of twice illegally using a glue to seal holes in the monkeys’ skulls, which leaked into their brains and killed them. The Department of Transportation is also investigating whether Neuralink followed safety measures when transporting the brain implants removed from monkeys.

Neuralink has killed an estimated 1,500 animals since 2018, including sheep, pigs and monkeys. Authorities are unclear how many died from complications from Neuralink's brain implant experiments. In one experiment involving 23 monkeys, five (21%) were euthanized due to problems with the device.

Neuralink's first attempt to get FDA approval in 2022 was rejected on safety grounds. However, Musk has expressed confidence in Neuralink's safety and is willing to implant brain chips in his children and himself. The upcoming human trials will need to prove the safety and effectiveness of Neuralink's brain chips before they are commercially available.

An Khang (According to Live Science )

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