Scientific opinions on Elon Musk’s innovation – 2024-02-29 04:39:05

Now patients will be able to have a neurointerface implanted, a microchip that is used to control devices using only the force of thought. Billionaire Elon Musk already announced on his social networks that “patient zero” recovers quickly after the Neuralink implant operation.

The experiment will involve people with paralyzed arms and legs (tetraplegia), whose condition is due to a spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Musk’s company stated that an independent US expert council had allowed such an experiment on humans in September 2023. Since then, the company has been recruiting volunteers for clinical trials. Thanks to brain surgeries, people will learn to control a computer mouse and keyboard using the power of thought. However, the device will still be tested for another six years.

The chip was previously tested on animals, and the company was long attacked by animal rights activists who believed that test monkeys died in agony.

Neurophysiologist and doctor of Medical Sciences Marina Korolyova, in an interview with Metro, stated that, in theory, the introduction of a device of this type in certain areas of the motor cortex of the brain could facilitate the rehabilitation of people with tetraplegia.

“It is important to remember that the introduction of any foreign body into the brain is not safe and can cause a serious inflammatory process,” said the expert. “In addition, over time, objects introduced into the brain will be covered by connective tissue, and there is a risk that the connection of these areas with the nervous structure will be lost. “I wouldn’t opt ​​for an operation like that.”

The expert pointed out that volunteers at Elon Musk’s company probably do not realize all the consequences.

“According to my predictions, only four out of ten people with implanted chips will be able to do what Musk promised: use gadgets using the power of thought. Furthermore, the danger of this technology is too great. Most likely, Musk paid a lot of money to volunteers to participate in the experiment. But what if the efficiency is too low?”

However, from a theoretical point of view, it is a very interesting experiment, says the expert. But it is far from perfect. Korolyova believes that the most important thing now is not to draw premature conclusions, since this is only the first step towards the complete digitization of the human brain.

“We have to see what happens next. If the experiment is successful, it will be a great advance for science,” she concludes.

How does the Neuralink N1 brain chip work?

• Installation: Patients undergo surgery to implant the coin-sized N1 device in the area of ​​the brain that controls movement. The surgery is performed by a robot.
• How it works: The chip records the electrical activity of the brain and sends this data to an external device, such as a phone or computer.
• Learning and execution

– The external device decodes brain activity, identifying patterns related to specific goals (for example, moving a cursor on a screen).

– Over time, learn to recognize these patterns and execute the intended action without the person physically moving.

• Application: The technology is currently being tested to help people with paralysis control digital devices and could be extended to control physical devices such as wheelchairs.