First brain-chip patient uses it for gaming

PARALYSED from the shoulders down for eight years, Noland Arbaugh’s new brain implant suddenly opened up a world of new possibilities.

But when the 29-year-old from Arizona became the first person in the world to harness the power of mind control, all he really wanted to do was play video games.

Mr Arbaugh is believed to be the first human patient to benefit from ground-breaking neuroscience technology being trialled by Elon Musk’s Neuralink company. After successful surgery gave him the power to move a cursor on his computer, he logged on to Civilization VI for eight hours until the batteries ran out. The medical breakthrough was unveiled in a nine-minute video released on Wednesday, in which Mr Arbaugh appears to move a cursor across a laptop screen with nothing more than his thoughts.

“See that cursor on the screen? That’s all me... it’s all brainpower,” said Mr Arbaugh, who lost feeling in his arms and legs after a diving accident eight years ago.

“I had basically given up playing that game,” he added, referring to Civilization VI, before telling Neuralink staff: “You all gave me the ability to do that again and I played for eight hours straight.” The video also shows him playing online chess and turning off the laptop’s music.

Mr Arbaugh, who volunteered for the medical trial, received the implant in January. “The surgery was super easy,” he added. “I literally was released from the hospital a day later. I have no cognitive impairments.”

No external devices or wires were visible in the video. If the technology is successful, it could revolutionise care for people with disabilities.

Mr Musk announced a month ago that an unnamed person had become the first human to receive the implant.