A paralyzed woman traces the letters of her first name on a computer screen. This simple gesture, impossible for her for twenty years, was accomplished by the power of thought alone.
This feat is made possible by a brain implant developed by the company Neuralink. The equipment, from a clinical trial, captures and decodes signals emitted by the motor cortex. It then translates movement intention into digital commands.
An innovative brain-machine interface
The N1 implant, the size of a coin, is placed in the skull during a surgical procedure. 128 wires equipped with electrodes are inserted into the region of the cortex controlling movements. This device records neural activity with great precision.
The brain signals are transmitted wirelessly to an external computer, then an artificial intelligence algorithm analyzes them in real time. It learns to associate specific neural patterns with actions on the screen.
The patient, identified as P9 (her real name is Audrey Crews), had to undergo intensive cognitive training. She had to imagine moving her hand to control the cursor, then brain plasticity allowed her mind to adapt to this new interface.
Promising results for autonomy
Just days after the implant was activated, the patient sketched out her first name. This demonstration goes beyond simple basic cursor control; it involves a sequence of voluntary mental commands.
A second patient, designated P8 (Nick Wray), also reported a renewed sense of digital autonomy: he now uses the interface to browse the internet and communicate. These rapid advances even surprise the researchers.
Although this technology does not restore lost physical motor function, it offers a bridge to the digital world for quadriplegic individuals. The goal is to give them back access to communication and information.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND