Paralyzed Man Regains Autonomy with Neuralink Brain Chip Implant | WPN World People News

In Arizona, USA, a man named Noland Arbaugh was left paralyzed from the shoulders down after a diving accident in 2016. Last year, he underwent a Neuralink brain–computer interface surgery, becoming the first clinical trial participant of Elon Musk’s company. The procedure, which took less than two hours, was performed by a surgical robot that implanted a coin-sized chip into his brain and connected more than a thousand ultra-thin electrodes to his motor cortex. This allows him to control computers and household devices with his thoughts, without moving his body.

Arbaugh’s life has undergone a dramatic transformation since the surgery. He now spends about 10 hours a day using the device, enabling him to play games, browse the internet, read books, and schedule classes. He has also returned to community college to study neuroscience and is planning to launch a professional speaking career. He described the implant as giving him back his sense of autonomy and providing a new sense of purpose in life.

Currently, only about 80 people worldwide have similar brain–computer interfaces. Neuralink has since performed surgeries on eight more participants, including one woman, with all clinical trials taking place in U.S. hospitals. Arbaugh admitted that, as the first patient, he bore significant risks, but he never doubted the value of the trial: “Even if it failed, it could still contribute to the future.” Though he jokingly refers to himself as a “cyborg,” he continues to see himself as an ordinary person.

The technology has sparked some criticism for being highly invasive. Nevertheless, Musk emphasized that the company is extremely cautious with human trials, not rushing to scale up, with the goal of helping paralyzed patients regain independence while also prioritizing safety and ethical considerations.