Latest news with #PRIMEStudy
Fox News
01-08-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Woman uses Neuralink to write name with her mind
Audrey Crews hasn't written her name in over 20 years, that is, until now. Thanks to a brain chip from Elon Musk's Neuralink, Crews used only her thoughts to scribble "Audrey" on a laptop screen. She shared the photo on X, stunning millions across the internet and earning a shoutout from Musk himself. At age 16, Crews lost all motor function. Now, at 39, she's part of Neuralink's PRIME Study, which tests brain-computer interface (BCI) technology in humans. Her chip, implanted into her motor cortex, reads brain signals and sends them to a computer. It allows her to move a cursor and type, using only her thoughts. In her own words, "They drilled a hole in my skull and placed 128 threads into my motor cortex. The chip is about the size of a quarter." While the chip doesn't restore movement, it gives her something powerful: digital autonomy. She shared a picture of her signature on X and wrote, "I tried writing my name for the first time in 20 years. I'm working on it. Lol #Neuralink." She expressed her gratitude toward the medical team at the University of Miami Health Center. "They treated me like a VIP and are some of the sweetest people I've ever met," she added. Musk confirmed her achievement online, writing: "Most people don't realize this is possible." That single quote shook the internet. The post showcasing her scribbled signature quickly went viral, with over 2 million views. Crews clarified that the chip is for "telepathy only," not mobility. But even that level of control can transform the lives of people with paralysis. Neuralink, founded by Musk in 2016, aims to help people with neurological conditions connect with the digital world in powerful new ways. The company is developing BCIs that allow users to control devices using only their thoughts. While still in its early stages, this technology is already showing life-changing potential. Looking ahead, Neuralink envisions a future where thought-controlled computing becomes an everyday part of human life. Crews isn't alone in this journey. Another participant, Nick Wray (P8), shared his progress just days after his own implant activation. "I haven't had this level of digital autonomy in years," he wrote. Diagnosed with ALS, Wray called the implant a life-changing opportunity. He views this moment as both personal and historical, writing, "It's not lost on me that without ALS, I would never have been a candidate for this study. I sincerely believe that if ALS is the price of admission to an opportunity of this magnitude, you pay it; gladly, willingly, and without hesitation." This isn't just about writing a name. It's about what's coming next. Neuralink's brain chip is working in real people. If you're wondering whether brain-computer interfaces could one day let you control your phone, write an email or play a game without touching a screen, that future is inching closer. While still experimental, these breakthroughs are a glimpse into a new kind of human-machine connection. Neuralink is now accepting participants from around the globe. If you're curious about brain-computer interfaces, this could be your chance to help shape the future. You can check it out at Audrey Crews rewrote more than her name. She rewrote the limits of what's possible. With a chip the size of a quarter, she became the first woman to control a computer using pure thought. Her story isn't just inspiring, it's a warning to the tech world: the age of mind-powered machines is arriving faster than expected. Would you volunteer to be part of a brain-computer trial like Audrey and Nick? Or do you think it is too early to trust this technology? Let us know by writing to us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Elon Musk chooses Miami for Neuralink brain-implant research
Elon Musk's Neuralink has selected Miami as a clinical trial site for its brain-computer interface. Musk's Neuralink makes devices that link the human brain to computers, focusing on giving people with quadriplegia or paralysis the ability to control computers and devices with their thoughts. The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami will be the second U.S. site to participate in research known as the PRIME Study. Neuralink is already conducting clinical trials at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Ariz. The company announced its first brain implant one year ago and announced earlier this month that a third person had received an implant. Patients who received the implants have been playing video games and online chess by simply thinking about steering left or right. For the PRIME Study, Neuralink scientists and a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, neuroscientists and biomedical engineers at The Miami Project and the Miller School of Medicine will implant the device in local participants. Neuralink has already received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to launch an in-human clinical study. 'This collaboration represents another great opportunity to combine our clinical research expertise with the forward-thinking team at Neuralink,' said Marc Buoniconti, president of The Miami Project. 'We hope this partnership is another significant step in finding meaningful solutions for the millions living with paralysis and other significant motor deficits.' Buoniconti's father, Nick, an NFL Hall of Fame linebacker, founded The Miami Project in 1985 with neurosurgeon Barth Green after Marc suffered a spinal cord injury during a college football game that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. Now in his 50s, Marc has turned his situation into purpose, raising funds for research and inspiring people with his drive to help people walk again. The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami focuses on developing new strategies for repairing the nervous system and improving quality of life following spinal cord or brain injury. 'This study will use the latest technological advances in (brain-computer interfaces) approaches for improving function and quality of life in individuals living with the consequences of chronic spinal cord injury, as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),' said Dr. Allan Levi, professor and chair of neurological surgery at the University of Miami. On its website, Neuralink says, 'We want to continuously improve our technologies based on learnings from clinical trials as we look to maximize the number of people we can potentially help.' For the PRIME Study, Neuralink is looking for patients who have limited or no ability to use both hands as a result of a cervical spinal cord injury or ALS. Additional details about the PRIME Study can be found on Individuals interested in learning whether they qualify for this trial can join Neuralink's United States Patient Registry.
