Neuralink’s Brain Implant Trial Location Revealed: What We Know

Neuralink Begins Human Trials at Barrow Neurological Institute

In a significant step forward for brain-computer interface technology, Neuralink, the brain-implant company founded by Elon Musk, has announced the commencement of human trials at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. The first participant, a man named Nathan Copeland, received the implant in January and recently demonstrated its capabilities in a brief livestream on the social media platform X.

Copeland’s Journey and the Neuralink Demonstration

Copeland, who became paralyzed from the shoulders down following a diving accident eight years ago, showcased the potential of the Neuralink device by using a computer to engage in online chess. Additionally, he mentioned utilizing the interface to enjoy the popular video game Civilization.

“We chose to partner with Barrow based on their extensive expertise in caring for patients with complex neurological conditions,” Neuralink said in a blog post.

Criticism and Study Details

Despite the groundbreaking nature of the trial, Neuralink has faced criticism for its lack of transparency, including not publishing peer-reviewed research or registering the study on ClinicalTrials.gov, a standard repository for human subject research. Instead, updates have primarily come from social media posts by the company or Musk himself. However, Neuralink did release a study brochure last fall, providing some details about the trial, such as basic information on the device’s functionality and participant eligibility criteria.

Study Objectives and Eligibility

The primary objectives of the study are to evaluate the safety and initial effectiveness of the Neuralink device. Participants must be adults aged 22 or older with quadriplegia resulting from a vertical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and have a caregiver. Barrow Neurological Institute expects to submit an initial assessment of the system’s safety and usability to the FDA in the coming months.

Implantation Process and Technology

The study is expected to span approximately six years, as outlined in Neuralink’s brochure. The implantation process involves a surgical robot developed by the company, which installs the device in a brain region responsible for controlling movement intention. The implant, roughly the size of a coin, reads neural activity from 1,024 electrodes spread across 64 threads. These signals are then transmitted wirelessly to a device running Neuralink’s software, which decodes them into movements.

Patient Registry and Future Updates

To facilitate the recruitment of potential participants, Neuralink has established a patient registry for paralyzed individuals interested in determining their eligibility for the study. As the trial is still in its early stages, the company plans to provide further updates on Copeland and future participants as the study progresses.