Noland Arbaugh, a participant in Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain-computer interface (BCI) trial, has achieved remarkable progress in controlling devices with his mind. Despite being quadriplegic, Noland has been able to play Mario on a Nintendo Switch and control his MacBook, activities he hasn’t enjoyed since his diving accident eight years ago.
Using Neuralink’s BCI, Noland has set a record by controlling a cursor at 8 bits-per-second (BPS), surpassing previous methods that were less ergonomic and caused physical discomfort. The BCI allows Noland to distinguish left and right clicks and control the cursor with enough precision to select small icons and buttons on his laptop screen.
The Neuralink team achieved these results with fewer electrodes than originally placed, as some had retracted during the healing process. Despite this setback, modifications to the recording algorithm and user interface have led to a significant improvement in Noland’s BPS score.
Looking ahead, the researchers aim to further enhance Noland’s control abilities, particularly in text entry, and improve the speed and precision of cursor movements. Noland expressed his excitement over his newfound abilities, stating, “I’m beating my friends in games that as a quadriplegic I should not be beating them in.”
This progress marks a significant milestone in the development of brain-computer interfaces and offers hope for individuals with paralysis to regain control and independence in their daily lives.
