- Neuralink’s first human patient, quadriplegic Noland Arbaugh, shares a life-changing experience.
- The chip allows Arbaugh to play video games for hours without assistance.
- Arbaugh can now enjoy extended gaming sessions, with cursor control becoming intuitive.
Meet Noland Arbaugh, the pioneer
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s neural technology company, has revealed its first human patient to receive a brain-chip implant: Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old man who became a quadriplegic after a serious diving accident eight years ago.
During a livestream on X (formerly Twitter), Arbaugh shared his experience, stating that while the chip is “not perfect,” it has already significantly improved his life, allowing him to play video games for hours without relying on family members for assistance.
Arbaugh emphasized that there is still work to be done, and the chip’s implementation is not the end of the journey. He acknowledged that they have encountered some issues along the way.
However, the implant has already changed his life, enabling him to control a game of chess using only his brain while his hands remained on the armrests of his specialized chair.
Reclaiming lost pleasures
Before the implant, Arbaugh’s condition limited his ability to play his favorite video game, Civilization VI, for extended periods.
He had to worry about pressure sores and required help from his family to readjust his seated position. With the Neuralink chip, Arbaugh can now play the game for several hours while lying in bed, the biggest restriction being the need to recharge the implant after long gaming sessions.
Controlling the chip has become intuitive for Arbaugh, who likened moving the computer cursor to “using the force.”
