Neuralink Recipient Noland Arbaugh Thanks Elon for New Lease on Life

Noland Arbaugh, paralysed from a diving accident in 2016, can now control a computer cursor with only his thoughts, thanks to a Neuralink brain implant.

This breakthrough technology allows him to play video games again, using nothing but his mind—no hands, no voice.

In January 2024, at 30 years old, Arbaugh became the first person to receive the Neuralink implant, joining a growing field of brain-computer interfaces developed by other companies.

However, the attention surrounding his story is not solely due to the science; it is the result of the company's high-profile founder, Elon Musk, and the potential of the technology to change lives like Arbaugh’s.

For Arbaugh, the true transformation lies not in Musk’s identity, but in the device's ability to restore independence.

Arbaugh Signed Up Knowing the Risks

Arbaugh shared with BBC that he fully understood the risks when he agreed to participate in the Neuralink study:

“Good or bad, whatever may be, I would be helping. If something terrible happened, I knew they would learn from it.”

Fame and media attention were not his motivations; his focus was squarely on the technology and its potential.

He expressed:

“If everything worked out, then I could help being a participant of Neuralink.”

His primary goal was to help advance the science.

He emphasized that the real story is not about him or Musk—it is about the progress of the technology itself.

Knowing the surgery was invasive and the chip would be implanted directly into his skull, tapping into the brain's motor region, Arbaugh took the risk.

The chip detects neuron spikes when he attempts to move, converting them into computer commands.

Before the implant, Arbaugh had no movement below the shoulders and relied entirely on others for assistance.

He said:

“You just have no control, no privacy, and it’s hard. You have to learn that you have to rely on other people for everything.”

He thought he’d never be able to study or game again. That changed with the implant.

Arbaugh Can Move Computer Cursor With His Thoughts

After the surgery, Arbaugh was surprised to find that he could move a computer cursor with his thoughts alone—no joystick, no eye-tracking, just his brain.

By imagining the movement of his fingers, the chip detected the signal and translated it into motion on the screen.

As his neuron spikes appeared on the screen in real-time, the Neuralink engineers around him were abuzz with excitement, but Arbaugh remained composed.

It worked; the signals were genuine.

It was his brain controlling the movement.

Over time, his precision improved, allowing him to play chess and video games once more.

Arbaugh was quick to clarify—this was not a miracle, but a technological system at work: electrodes, neuron spikes, code, and movement.

While Musk remained reserved in public, only posting on X (formerly known as Twitter):

“Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.”

Arbaugh noted that Musk was much more enthusiastic in private conversations they had before and after the procedure:

“I think he was just as excited as I was to get started.”

However, Arbaugh insists he does not view the implant as "an Elon Musk device."

Musk’s involvement, though, has undoubtedly brought significant attention and funding to Neuralink.

Still, the company faces criticism for rushing through development and making overly ambitious claims.

Additionally, concerns about brain privacy and the potential for data leaks have raised alarms.

Privacy & Long-Term Risk Are Flagged

Anil Seth, a neuroscience professor at the University of Sussex, points out that the most significant concern surrounding neural implants is privacy:

“So if we are exporting our brain activity… then we are kind of allowing access to not just what we do but potentially what we think, what we believe and what we feel. Once you’ve got access to stuff inside your head, there really is no other barrier to personal privacy left.”

However, for Arbaugh, that is not a deterrent.

Instead, he envisions the chip advancing even further, possibly allowing him to control a wheelchair or even a robot in the future.

While the chip has brought impressive results, it is not without its flaws.

At one point, Arbaugh lost control of his computer entirely when the device partially disconnected from his brain.

Though the issue was quickly addressed by engineers and the code was adjusted for greater stability, the incident raised a critical question: what happens if the chip fails again?

What is the contingency plan if the connection between brain and computer is lost?

Arbaugh, who agreed to participate in a six-year study, acknowledges that there is no clear plan for what follows.

The brain-device connection is considered temporary, and the future remains uncertain.

Yet, Arbaugh remains focused not on the unknowns, but on the present, continuing his journey with the chip.

He quipped:

“We know so little about the brain. And this is allowing us to learn so much more.”