Neuralink, the neurotechnology firm co-founded by Elon Musk, has received the green light from the US FDA to commence human trials of its prototype brain-computer interface (BCI) following an initial denial in March.
BCIs convert the brain’s electrical impulses into digital signals that computers can interpret, necessitating a surgical procedure for installation. They do this by placing ultra-thin electrodes intricately placed within the brain tissue, which then convert them into the digital binary language of 1s and 0s, which computers can comprehend. Due to the necessity of a surgical procedure to implant the BCI into a patient’s brain, regulatory bodies like the FDA enforce stringent safety testing protocols before granting commercial approval to companies involved in such technologies.
Neuralink’s earlier submission was turned down due to apprehensions regarding the interface’s design and functionality, along with reports of animal fatalities during testing. Presently, the company has not initiated the recruitment of volunteers for the clinical trial, said Elon Musk in a tweet.
Image credit: Neuralink
