Elon Musk’s Neuralink received clearance for its brain chip implant human trials in May 2023, after which it asked people to apply for the company’s six-year-long study. However, to be eligible for the study, participants need to fulfill particular conditions, which include severe paralysis conditions and the availability of a reliable caregiver. Here’s everything one needs to know about Neuralink’s criteria.
Neuralink’s Brain Implant Chip’s Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for Neuralink’s human trials, one has to meet a particular set of conditions. A person must have quadriplegia, paraplegia, visual impairment, aphasia, or hearing impairment. People with major limb amputations are also eligible. Further, the people must be at least 18 years old and have a reliable caregiver. Applicants would also have to share their medical history with the company, including information about the primary care provider, CT and MRI scans, and HIV tests.
However, those who fulfill the above criteria but have a history of seizures, an implanted device like a pacemaker or deep brain stimulator, require MRIs for a present medical condition or are going through transcranial magnetic stimulation aren’t eligible for Neuralink’s study. These criteria might initially seem confusing and complicated, but the company’s website elaborately lists them.
Neuralink mentions on its website that it is committed to developing devices with input from the communities and groups it aims to serve. However, until now, the company has only received input from a small number of individuals with different levels of motor impairment. With the Neuralink Patient Registry, the company wants to “understand the needs of a larger, more diverse group of individuals,” which will help train its system better.
Thousands Of Volunteers Have Lined Up For The Study
According to a recent Bloomberg report, thousands of volunteers are lining up to get the brain implant. As part of the study, participants must get a portion of their skull removed. Neuralink will place an implant to read and analyze the volunteer’s brain activity and transfer it to a connected laptop or tablet. Through this process, the company aims to convert human thoughts into commands that a computer can understand, providing an interface between the two.
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