A woman who has been paralyzed from the neck down for nearly 20 years has regained the ability to interact with a computer using only her thoughts, in what Neuralink has described as a world-first achievement.
Audrey Crews, a Louisiana resident, became the first female patient to receive Neuralink’s brain-computer interface (BCI) implant, which enables users to control electronic devices with their mind.
Crews, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident at the age of 16, has been a quadriplegic since 2005.
The accident caused significant damage to her C4 and C5 vertebrae, leaving her without sensation or mobility in her arms and legs.
This month, she underwent a surgical procedure at the University of Miami Health Center, where a small device known as the N1 implant was inserted into her brain’s motor cortex.
The operation required surgeons to drill a hole in her skull in order to implant the chip and its 128 threads, which are thinner than a human hair.
These threads contain over 1,000 electrodes designed to detect the electrical signals that neurons produce when a person thinks about movement.
Each of these “neuron spikes” is unique and is translated by Neuralink’s software into specific actions on a computer.
Following the procedure, Crews shared her progress on X, including a video of her first attempt at writing her name digitally in nearly two decades.
“I tried writing my name for the first time in 20 years. I’m working on it. Lol,” she posted, attaching an image of her name, “Audrey,” drawn in cursive using a purple virtual pen on a computer screen.
The N1 implant, which is about the size of a coin, sits beneath the skull and communicates wirelessly with a nearby computer or smartphone.
It is powered by a small battery that charges without the need for wires and uses Bluetooth technology to send brain signals to connected devices.
Since receiving the implant, Crews has reported being able to use a digital mouse, type on a keyboard, draw images and even scroll through a computer—all controlled entirely by her thoughts.
“Imagine your pointer finger is left click and the cursor [movement] is with your wrist, without physically doing it. Just a normal day using telepathy,” she explained in one of her posts.
Crews said the technology has made her feel a sense of freedom she hasn’t experienced in two decades.
She has begun accepting drawing suggestions from social media followers, using the practice to further improve her control over the cursor.
She has drawn images including hearts, flowers, rainbows and even faces.
“I am the first woman in the world to do this,” she stated on X.
“Not in all my wildest dreams, but the future is here,” she said in response to a follower who asked if she ever imagined such a possibility.
Neuralink was founded in 2016 by Elon Musk and a team of neuroscientists, engineers and roboticists with the goal of developing advanced BCI technologies.
Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has repeatedly stated his vision to merge the human brain with artificial intelligence, restore lost neurological function and eventually enhance human cognition.
The Daily Mail reported that in 2019, Musk revealed the N1 implant, which enables users to move a cursor or interact with a digital device by decoding brain activity. The technology is still undergoing clinical trials and is not yet available to the general public.
Crews is the ninth person to receive the implant, following others who live with conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or severe spinal cord injuries.
The trials are focused on assessing the long-term safety and reliability of the device in restoring digital communication abilities to those with paralysis.
Musk reacted to Crews’ progress by posting on X, “She is controlling her computer just by thinking. Most people don’t realize this is possible.”
Crews noted that the device does not restore movement to her limbs or reverse the physical effects of her paralysis. However, she hopes the technology will give her the ability to write a book about her experiences.
“I’ve been a quadriplegic since the age of 16, so I have lots to tell,” she said.
The N1 implant’s ability to decode thoughts is currently limited to motor-related brain activity.
It does not read general thoughts, emotions, or internal dialogue, and its primary function is to enable users to perform specific tasks like moving a cursor or clicking objects on a screen.
Earlier this year, Neuralink’s first patient, Noland Arbaugh, experienced a complication when the threads connected to his brain retracted, disrupting the implant’s functionality.
Neuralink engineers made adjustments to restore performance, and Arbaugh was able to regain control.
Despite these technical challenges, the early trials have demonstrated the potential for BCI technology to offer new independence to those with debilitating conditions.
Neuralink has stated that further improvements and broader testing will be necessary before the implant can be considered for widespread use, per the Daily Mail.
The company is also exploring future applications, including restoring vision and treating mental health disorders, but those efforts remain in development.
For now, the focus remains on enabling basic digital control for people living with paralysis.
The post Paralyzed Woman Reveals Shock Effect of Elon’s Brain Chip, Uses Her Mind to Control Computer in Historic Neuralink Milestone: ‘Just a Normal Day Using Telepathy’ appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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