This blog provides information about Brain Implant Technology. It starts with the introduction to Brain Implant. Then it defines Brain Computer Interface and the purposes behind it. It also introduces Neuralink Technology Company in detail. Then it tells its Cost and Conditions for Neuralink Brain Implant. In the end, it mentions the Risks of Neuralink Implant. This blog contains Brain implant, purposes, Neuralink and its Risks.
What is Brain Implant?
Brain implant is a new technology. We can also call it as Neural Implant. In this technology, we use technological devices that connects directly with Biological subject’s brain. The device is usually attached to the surface of the brain and it connects with the brain’s cortex.
This is a modern technique that helps us to use technology to make human life better. It is basically used for connecting human’s Nervous system with Computer chips. This all work is a part of wide field of research that is called as Brain Computer Interface. This blog contains Brain Implant, Neuralink and Its risks. We will have a look on this Research field in the next Paragraph.
Brain Computer interface:
Brain computer interface, also called as Brain Machine Interface BMI, is the technology and field of research that is used to connect Brain’s Electrical activity with an external device. Research on BCIs started in the 1970s by Jacques Vidal at the University of California, Los Angeles under a permit from the National Science Foundation, followed by a contract from DARPA. Vidal’s 1973 paper introduced the term brain–computer interface into scientific literature.
Purposes of Brain Computer Interface:
The purposes of Brain Computer Interface or Brain Machine Interface are as follows:
Researching:
We can practice research on electrical activity signals of the brain by this technology. This can be a safe and suitable way of knowing human brain.
Mapping:
This can also help in mapping the brain function and activities for study or research purposes. We can study human Brain thoroughly by using such kind of technology.
Assissting:
We can use this technology and research field to assist our brain to perform certain activities or skills at workplace. By this technology, a person can learn a skill without practicing by brain signals.
Augmenting:
This can help us to enhance understanding about certain things in a human’s brain and we can also increase a person’s skills and make them expert in the field they want to choose.
Neuroimaging:
It can be defined as an advanced system that can help us to study the function of Nervous System and the structure of brain in a computational manner in a non-intrusive manner. We can use this technology for Neuroimaging.
Repairing Cognitive and Sensory-motor Function:
We can apply this in medical field in order to repair or locate all the cognitive functions of the brain if they are damaged by any accident or health condition. This can also help in improving or correcting Sensory motor neuron functions to improve a person’s brain function and also their health.
These are the few purposes of Brain Computer Interface.
Neuralink:
Neuralink is a Technology company that was founded by Elon Musk in 2016. It is introducing a Brain Computer Interface (BMI) called “The Link”. This device is designed to connect human brain directly to computers. Neuralink’s new technology is capable of recoding and decoding brain signals and then transmitting the information back to the human brain using Electrical Signals.
The Link is a chip of size of a coin. The doctors embed the chip under the skull. The chip decides the location where the brain receives the information from the computer. The company is also developing an app that would allow a person to manipulate a keyboard and mouse using only their mind.
Neuralink, implanted its first device in a patient in January 2024 successfully. The Link device works in a way that it will read the electric signals of the actions that we are thinking in our minds. Even before performing those actions.
Neuralink aims to assist people with paralysis communicate by allowing them to manually control devices using brain activity. In near future, Neuralink may help enhance user memory and cognitive abilities, restore a user’s sensory and sight related functions as well as treat neurological disorders. It is said that, one person named Noland Arbaugh have got the Neuralink implant and Two study participants will get the implant done very soon.
Cost of Neuralink Brain Implant:
Neuralink has not announced the cost of the Brain Implant yet. But estimated cost is $10,500. It is predicted that the insurance companies will end up being charged for the whole process $40,000 in US. If this technology showed long-term suitable and beneficial impacts, than it would be worth it for the required amount. But as we know we can’t completely rely on Technology, so it also comes up with many health risks and waste of money for the patients.
Conditions for Eligibility for Neuralink Brain Implant:
Following are the conditions for Eligibility:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in the United States.
- Be at least 18 years old and having the legal maturity in their state.
- Have quadriplegia, paraplegia, blindness or eye related issues, hearing impairment or deafness and aphasia or the problems with speech.
- Be able to ready for participation.
These are the conditions to get a Neuralink Brain Implant.
Risks of Neuralink Brain Implant:
Following are the risks of Neuralink Brain Implant:
Brain Infection or Injury:
As we all know, when a small device will be stitched under the skull, it can damage that specific area and cause a brain injury. This brain injury can also effect your brain functions or they may need any other major brain surgery for the cure. In the same way, it can cause brain infections if body does not accepts its interference in brain functions. We should take some time to have proves about these risks.
Physical Effects:
This device interferes the work of the brain in every way to change the results of its activities in order to improve them. But we cannot deny the fact that, it embeds an invasive and artificial device in natural working organ. So this implant can definitely lead to the physical side effects such as bleeding, nausea, seizures, headaches, etc. We should know all these facts before proceeding.
Psychological effects:
Brain makes your psychological health and psychologically driven activities. Psychological effects includes mood changes, irritability, hypertension, overthinking, and all other feelings that our brain drives so Neuralink implant interferes your brain impulses and may lead to some negative changes in your brain that can irritate you and they can even become uncontrollable.
Allergic Reaction:
The device may cause allergy within your skull that can effect its functioning or it may become painful or can lead to any brain infection. It will happen when the body will not respond to the device and the body does not accept it as its part to keep working with it like an organ.
Cybersecurity:
There is a big risk of privacy invading by this implant so as this chip will be containing all the data present within your brain and all the activities in which the body participates. The company may hack your brain device and get all your personal information and your schedule. In this condition, other people or the company itself can use it as against you very easily. This is the biggest risk of Neuralink.
Long-term Effects:
As we all know, Neuralink implant has only applied on a single person yet and only a little time has passed after the transplant. So, we cannot promise that there will be no long-term impacts of Neuralink in future. There can be any death risk, organ damage, physical disability and many other long-term effects of Neuralink that are unknown yet. We should wait for few years to know the long-term dangerous risks of Neuralink.
These are the few risks of Neuralink’s Brain Implant Technology or Device.
China’s Brain Chip:
Latest news about China will blow your mind. China has introduced a Brain Chip similar to Neuralink. This chip is implanted in monkeys and tested with the help of monkeys. China’s brain chip can also control brain functions. It is completely made in China and is one of China’s great achievement in Technology.
Conclusion:
Brain implant is the technology that uses specialized devices to connect brain signals directly with the computer. Brain Computer Interface is the name of technology that uses this technique for study and research purposes. Neuralink is a technology company that introduces Brain Computer Interface. It implants a small chip into the skull of the patient that connects with the brain and can control it. Till now only one person has got Neuralink brain implant so we have to wait to see long term results for this Brain Implant, to avoid life-threatening risks.
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