Neuralink Seeks New Volunteers to Test Brain Implants
As of February this year, Elon Musk’s startup has implanted a brain implant in three patients who have lost mobility in all their limbs. The most well-known success story is that of the first of them, Noland Arbaugh, who has already lived with the implant in his head for a year. Now Neuralink is looking for volunteers around the world.
Now, anyone who meets certain criteria can apply for a neurochip through the company’s official website. In addition to quadriplegia, potential participants must also meet other requirements: be over 22 years old, have a permanent caregiver, and have no contraindications to MRI as part of the treatment of the current disease.
The neurochip implantations are part of the six-year PRIME study. The first phase lasts 18 months and includes nine clinic visits or home visits. Participants will be monitored for the next five years, which will require an additional 20 visits. Neuralink is willing to cover some of the costs associated with participating in the study, such as travel to and from the clinic.
Recall that Neuralink’s first patient, Noland Arboe, has now mastered working with a laptop, deftly controlling the cursor literally with his mind. He not only plays strategy games, but also resumed his university studies remotely, interrupted by a spinal injury.
