Neuralink's First UK Patient Achieves Computer Control Just Hours After Brain Implant

A paralyzed patient in the United Kingdom, identified as Paul, has reportedly gained the ability to control a computer using only his thoughts, mere hours after receiving a Neuralink brain implant. This significant development marks Neuralink's first human implant procedure in the UK, expanding its clinical trials beyond North America. Paul, who suffers from paralysis due to motor neuron disease, received the company's "Telepathy" brain implant.

The breakthrough was announced by Neuralink, the neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk, via a post on social media platform X. According to the announcement, Paul's successful interaction with a computer so soon after surgery demonstrates the immediate potential of the brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. The device utilizes a neural chip equipped with 64 ultra-thin threads designed to detect brain signals, enabling users to control external devices purely through thought.

This UK implant follows Neuralink's initial human trial in the United States, where Noland Arbaugh, a quadriplegic patient, received an implant in January 2024. Arbaugh also demonstrated the ability to control a computer cursor with his thoughts, playing chess and video games. While Arbaugh's case experienced some initial issues with thread retraction, subsequent software updates restored functionality, highlighting the iterative nature of this pioneering technology.

Neuralink's "Telepathy" device is designed to provide digital autonomy for individuals with severe paralysis. The surgical implantation of the ultra-thin threads into the brain's motor cortex is performed by a proprietary R1 Robot. This expansion into the UK, with procedures conducted in collaboration with UCLH neurosurgeons, signifies a major step in the company's global clinical development and its mission to enable brain-to-machine communication for therapeutic purposes.