According to a recent tweet by Elon Musk, the founder of Neuralink, the first human recipient of an implant from the brain-chip startup underwent the procedure on Sunday and is currently in a stable recovery.
Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the company clearance to conduct its inaugural trial to test its implant on humans.
“The initial results indicate a promising detection of neuron spikes,” Musk added.
The National Institute of Health defines neurons as cells that use electrical and chemical signals to transmit information throughout the brain and body, which is what causes spikes.
The startup’s Prime study is a trial for its wireless brain-computer interface, aiming to assess the safety of the implant and surgical robot.
According to the company’s website, the study will evaluate the effectiveness of the interface that allows individuals with quadriplegia to control devices using their thoughts.
Neuralink did not respond promptly to a request for additional information.
The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well.
Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2024
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Neuralink faced a fine for not complying with the rules set by the US Department of Transportation (DoT) regarding the transportation of hazardous materials.
According to the agency’s records, during inspections of the company’s facilities in Texas and California in February 2023, DoT investigators discovered that the company had neglected to register itself as a transporter of hazardous material.
In addition, they discovered that the hazardous waste had been packaged incorrectly, which included the presence of the flammable liquid xylene. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, xylene can have serious health effects such as headaches, dizziness, confusion, loss of muscle coordination, and even death.
Last year, Neuralink achieved a significant milestone when it obtained FDA clearance for its first trial to test the company’s implant in humans. This clearance marked a crucial step forward for the startup. In June, Reuters reported that the company’s value reached as high as $5 billion, based on private stock trades.
In September, Neuralink made an announcement about the implant trial. According to the company, a robot they developed will be in charge of surgically implanting the “ultra-fine” threads that aid in signal transmission in the participants’ brains during the study.
