Case Study

NNeuralink

 

The human brain is an incredible pattern-matching machine (Jeff Bezos), The founders of Neuralink are Elon Musk a well-known Executive Officer of Tesla Motors, and Max Hodak but this last one decide to leave the project in 2021. The principal aim of Neuralink is to create device that would be connected to the brains in order to help quadriplegic people to accomplish simple tasks that they were not able to do previously and of course this means a surgical procedure, this case study will talk about the aims of Neuralink and how can be so beneficial for our society in order to identify key themes and results.

 

The procedure is very complicated, and it needs the help of a precise equipment, the implant is inserted on a hole in the skull created by a robot and the implants are then embedded In the cortex, all the procedure can be done in 30 minutes, all of the procedure were never done on humans (livescience, 2023). Although the first Neuralink’s attempt to gain the approval of FDA was rejected in 2022 (livescience, 2023) it is expected that in next few years the implementation in humans will be normal.

 

(Source: Here it is shown how Neurolinks prototype from last summer has change today, Deezen, 2022)

Nerve cells are connected like wires and produce electricity by a combination of chemical signals (PMC PubMed Central), this is the same communication that Neuralink will have with their devices by communicating itself with coordinate signals in our thoughts.

Stimulating different parts of our body that were previously off, like muscles and our brain itself.

(Source: One of their chips compare to a coin, Scientificamerican, 2019)

 

To conclude Neuralink is benefitial for humans in a future, it is not only beneficial for people with quadriplegic condition but also with someone that deals with a brain condition like Alzheimer, dementia, brain cancer or mental disorders, this case study has highlight the main idea and future of Neuralink. 

 

Reference:

 

Kenny (2019) What is Neuralink: A look at what it is, what it wants to be, and what it could become, Medium. Available at: https://towardsdatascience.com/what-is-neuralink-a-look-at-what-it-is-what-it-wants-to-be-and-what-it-could-become-2acf32b51dc5 (Accessed: 04 June 2023). 

 

Lewis, T. (2019) Elon Musk’s secretive Brain Tech company debuts a sophisticated neural implant, Scientific American. Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/elon-musks-secretive-brain-tech-company-debuts-a-sophisticated-neural-implant1/ (Accessed: 04 June 2023). 

 

Lovinger, D.M. (2008) Communication networks in the brain: Neurons, receptors, neurotransmitters, and alcohol, Alcohol research & health : the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3860493/#:~:text=Nerve%20cells%20(i.e.%2C%20neurons),the%20cell%20to%20the%20other. (Accessed: 04 June 2023). 

 

Moore, S. (2023) Elon Musk’s Neuralink ‘brain chips’ cleared for 1st in-human trials, LiveScience. Available at: https://www.livescience.com/health/neuroscience/elon-musks-neuralink-brain-chips-cleared-for-1st-in-human-trials (Accessed: 04 June 2023). 

 

Natashah Hitti |2 September 2020 Leave a comment (2020) Elon Musk unveils updated Neuralink brain implant design and surgical robot, Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/09/02/neuralink-elon-musk-brain-implant-technology/ (Accessed: 04 June 2023).