From Thoughts to Actions:
The Neuralink Revolution
Dhiren Ganjwala
Computer - heart interphase
Computer - Brain interphase
What about the other way?
Neuralink
Brain - Computer Interphase
What is Neuralink?
• Neurotechnology company
• Co-founded by Elon Musk in 2016
• Privately funded company
• Manufacture implantable BCI
Evolution of BCI
In 1973, EEG based BCI
• Outside the body
BCI unit of Nerualink = Link
Salient features of Link
• Currently, one-way system
• Reads signals from the brain
• Decodes what the person wants to do
• Transmit to computer
• Computer or robot carries out activities
• Helps people with paralysis to ‘act’
Salient features of Link
• 23 mm diameter and 8 mm thick
• Sits in skull
• Over brain areas related to movement
About the device
• Contains battery, wireless systems and electronics
• Rechargeable battery
• Charged wirelessly using magnetic coil
• Bluetooth transmitter sends signals to computer
• Computer instructs robotic arm or typing app
Latest Link Device N1
• 64 wires (threads)
• Thinner than hair
• Each has 16 electrodes
• 64 x 16 = 1024 electrodes
• Each picks electrical signals from ~100 neurones
How much part of the brain is covered?
• 2-4 cm brain areas is covered
2
• Mainly motor area: Not the whole brain
• Only a few mm depth
• In future, multiple implants or more threads
or more electrodes
Analogy
• Satellite collects information only a small area of city
• Not of entire city
How signals are processed?
• Signal detection
• Amplification
• Decoding
• Transmission
Decoding the brain signals
• After implantation, training starts
• Person is asked to think about X, Y, Z activities
• Device learns (by Machine Learning)
• Takes few minutes to few hours
• Some patients could move computer cursor on day 1
What actions were carried out?
• Clicking, typing, scrolling the screen
• Play digital games
• Design 3D models in CAD
• Type annotation and text
• Create a YouTube video
How much is the latency period?
• Neuralink
~50-100 ms
• EEG-based BCI
~300-500 ms
• Natural human movement
~150-200 ms
Device implantation
• Human hands can’t carry
out surgery that precisely
• Due to magnification,
robot avoids blood
vessels
Is part of the skull removed?
• Part of the skull exactly of the size of the device
Does implantation need anaesthesia?
• Short GA
• To keep the head stable
• 1 hour procedure
FDA-safety trial PRIME study
• Persons with spinal cord injury / ALS are enrolled
• Aim is to create a movement
• 1st patient in Jan 2024
• 7 patients are implanted by now
• Wants to complete 30 patients by end of 2025
Let’s understand the MoA
In normal person
• Thought → decision
• Planning
• Movement command
• Corticospinal tract
• Peripheral nerve
• NM junction
• Muscle action
In quadriplegia
• Thought → decision
• Planning
• Movement command
• Corticospinal tract
• Peripheral nerve
• NM junction
• Muscle action
In ALS
• Thought → decision
• Planning
• Movement command
• Corticospinal tract
• Peripheral nerve
• NM junction
• Muscle contraction
With Link device
• Thought → decision
• Planning
• Movement command
Computer / robot
Act
Why focus is on motor problems?
• Results are visible, quantifiable
• Motor cortex is easy to access
• Previous research has shown promises
• Better technology → better results
Options available for sensory limitations
• Bionics eye
• Cochlear implants
Limitations of current device
• Current device is one-way (only receiving)
• Future devices may be two-way
• Can instruct / influence brain
• Let’s have a look at the roadmap
Apprehension
• Current efforts are to reduce disability
• But two-way device may
~ Manipulate thoughts and decisions
~ Improve intellegence
~ Force staff / spouse to implant this device
Last few words
The question is not just what Neuralink can do,
but how we choose to use it.
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