Billionaire Elon Musk's Neuralink startup has begun searching for new patients for its next operations. Now there are no regional boundaries — an adult individual from anywhere in the world can become the next participant. Previously, applications were only accepted from residents of the USA, Canada, and the UK.
The initial patients of Neuralink were individuals with paralysis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and now volunteers with new diseases are being sought. The company has announced that it is looking for individuals affected by tetraplegia (where the main part of the body is paralyzed). A mandatory condition: the patient's both hands must not function due to a spinal cord injury.
Applications can be submitted starting from April 2, 2025, through the official website of the laboratory.
Within the framework of the experiment, a chip will be placed in the skull. A special manipulator will insert 64 thin fibers, which contain a total of 1024 electrodes. The manipulator robot connects the areas of the brain responsible for movement. Each fiber has a thickness of less than 4 micrometers and a length not exceeding 20 millimeters. The size of the chip itself is comparable to a coin.
"The research involves placing a small, externally inconspicuous implant in the part of the brain responsible for movement. This device analyzes the neural activity of the individual, allowing them to control a computer or smartphone simply by thinking about movement. No wires or physical movements are required," the statement said.
It is worth noting that in January 2024, the world's first human received a Neuralink brain implant. 29-year-old Noland Arbo became completely paralyzed as a result of an unfortunate accident that damaged his spinal cord. As a result of the installation of the Neuralink chip in Arbo's brain, he was able to control a computer using the power of thought.
