Elon Musk's Neuralink lets paralysed woman write her name after 20 years using only her mind

India Today

a day ago

Earlier this month, Neuralink, the brain–computer interface (BCI) company founded by Elon Musk, announced that it had successfully completed two implant surgeries in a single day for the first time. The company shared that both procedures were carried out on the same day and that the patients are now recovering. 'We successfully completed both P8 and P9 this weekend, our first time performing two surgeries in one day,' the company wrote in its post on X (formerly Twitter). Following up on this announcement, one of the recipients of the Neuralink implant has now shared that she is able to write her name and play games on a computer for the first time in 20 years.advertisementOne of the recipients of the Neualink implant, Audrey Crews, who has identified herself as 'P9', is now sharing her progress publicly. 'I would like to announce that I am P9. I am the first woman in the world with a Neuralink BCI. I can't wait for the world to meet me and follow me on my journey,' she wrote on X.Crews revealed that she has been paralysed for 20 years and underwent the surgery in the hope of regaining some abilities. Now after the surgery, she reveals that she is now able to write her name for the first time since her injury. 'I tried writing my name for the first time in 20 years. I'm working on it,' she posted.
In a follow-up post, Crews revealed that she underwent brain surgery to receive the Neuralink implant at the University of Miami Health Centre. The procedure involved drilling a small hole in her skull and meticulously placing 128 threads into her motor cortex. Notably, doctors use robotic assistance during the procedure to ensure greater precision. The chip itself is roughly the size of a 10p coin.Crews then shared that the surgery had been a success and that everything was progressing 'amazingly'. 'The BCI lets me control my computer using my mind. I'll be able to control more electronic devices in the near future. I also want to clarify that this implant will not allow me to walk again or regain movement. It's strictly for telepathy only,' she wrote.Elon Musk, also shared Crews' story and commented on X: 'She is controlling her computer just by thinking. Most people don't realise this is possible.'
But how exactly does the Neuralink implant work?Founded in 2016, Neuralink is developing implantable brain–computer interfaces (BCIs). At the core of the system is a small device, referred to as 'The Link' or the 'N1 Implant', which is surgically placed in the skull. From this implant, thin, flexible threads are positioned into specific regions of the brain, particularly the motor cortex, which is involved in movement control.advertisementThese threads contain electrodes designed to detect and record the electrical signals generated by neurons. When an individual thinks of an action – in Crews' case, what she describes as 'telepathy' – their neurons produce specific electrical patterns. The Neuralink implant captures these neural signals and transmits them wirelessly to an external device, such as a computer.Algorithms on the external device then interpret these brain signals, converting them into commands that can operate digital interfaces. In Audrey Crews' case, her thoughts are translated into actions on a computer screen, allowing her to manipulate a cursor, type, or interact with software without any physical input.Musk has previously shared that the primary aim of Neuralink at this stage is to provide individuals with severe paralysis or neurological conditions a way to interact with digital devices purely by thought. Crews herself has been posting regular updates on her recovery, showing how she is able to do things like play games, write her name and even draw on a computer screen – all simply by thinking.- Ends