To What Extent Could Neuralink Revolutionize The Treatment of Neurological Disorders?
- Maida Kourounlian
- May 5
- 4 min read
I’m sure you all know who Elon Musk is; however, I think few of you know about his company Neuralink and its aims. This topic is quite interesting, and I think you might also be interested in it if you clicked on this post. What I want to investigate is whether this technology has the potential to change the face of neuroscience and the treatment of neurological disorders. Obviously, I am a high school student, so I will be investigating this based on the scientific articles available (which are not many), and I will simply explain what this technology does and how it works.
WHAT IS NEURALINK AND ITS AIMS?
It is a device: brain-machine interface (BMI) technology made by Elon Musk with a goal to revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders. It uses implantable devices consisting of a network of electrodes to monitor and stimulate neural activity with high precision in the brain. With this device (which is like a chip), you can target specific brain areas affected by disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, etc., which could result in potentially faster and more effective treatment and, in some cases, even removal of a disorder depending on the degree of severity and progression. In paralysis treatment, Neuralink could bypass damaged neural pathways and directly stimulate dormant circuits, creating a new pathway that would enable patients to control robotic limbs or even regain movement.
Neuralink is a company founded by Elon Musk in 2016 that’s developing a brain-computer interface called “the Link,” which is a surgically embedded neural-chip implant designed to decode and stimulate brain activity. By enabling remote device control via brain activity, Neuralink seeks to facilitate communication for individuals with paralysis. Neuralink may be used in the future to cure neurological conditions, improve memory and cognitive function, and restore motor, sensory, and visual abilities. Neuralink implanted its first device in a patient’s brain in January 2024. The patient, who is paralyzed below the shoulders, has used the Neuralink device to play chess and is now using it to learn French and Japanese.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Neuralink is a technology company building a device “designed to connect human brains directly to computers,” said Ramses Alcaide, CEO of Neurable, a neurotech company developing non-invasive brain-computer interfaces in the form of headphones. “[Neuralink’s technology] is capable of recording and decoding neural signals and then transmitting information back to the brain using electrical stimulation.”
The chip is called “the Link." It is surgically embedded under the skull, where it receives information from neural threads that spread into different areas of the patient's brain in control of motor skills. The wires have sensors which record and emit electrical currents that are “so fine that they can’t be inserted by the human hand,” according to Neuralink’s website. That’s why Neuralink has built a neurosurgical robot that’s designed to take the role of a neurosurgeon.
COULD NEURALINK BE SUCCESSFUL?
There are scientific, medical, and ethical challenges. Currently, the technology is in experimental stages, with the first approval from the FDA in May 2023, and only one known person with this technology implanted is being monitored. The initial studies aim to demonstrate the ability to perform basic tasks such as moving a cursor or typing using thought, using only your brain; not actually touching these objects. However, the more complex goals of Neuralink, like restoring mobility in paralyzed people, require more understanding and investigation of the neuroplasticity of the brain and integration of the BMI technology with the spinal cord. Also, extensive clinical trials and ethical considerations, such as data privacy and the invasiveness of surgical implantation, are the challenges of this new technology.
HOW IS THE 1ST PATIENT DOING?
After a 2016 accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down, Arbaugh is now able to send messages, play video games, and browse the web by using his thoughts to operate a digital cursor. The N1 Implant by Neuralink employs 1,024 electrodes to record neural activity and convert it into actions over Bluetooth, which is how Arbaugh is able to do this.
"Progress is good, and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with no ill effects that we are aware of. Patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking," Musk said in a Spaces event on social media platform X.
CONCLUSION
It is obvious that this technology could truly change neuroscience and the lives of so many patients for the better; however, it still has a long way to go and a lot of ethical challenges to face before it can be accepted by the public. The aims are truly marvelous, and it increases the quality of life of paralyzed people tremendously. Mind-blowing as it is, it will be a while before it is even considered a valid treatment. Please comment on your opinions on this topic and how you feel about it!
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