How will Neuralink affect our memories?

By B. Sapoznik

Neuralink is a company founded by Elon Musk which has developed the technological advancements of neuroscience, the study of the brain. According to their company, their goal is to “Create a generalized brain interface to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs today and unlock human potential tomorrow”. This would be attained through the installment of a Neuralink device on a human’s head. This device is a small implant, which would be surgically placed on the brain of the patient. Now, this technology seems phenomenal and seems to be a promising path to take the next step in human development. Although, it is important to ask ourselves: what are the collateral effects of Neuralink’s technology? How might the electrical transmissions of the device interfere with brain usage and memory?


Neuralink states that its devices comprise a biocompatible enclosure (hatch), a wireless battery, electronic chips, and protective electrode threads. In its primary years, Neuralink was being used on animals, for research and interpretation of brain signals. Nowadays, it’s currently able to interpret those brain signals as different actions, such as thoughts to control interactions such as a simple videogame – and its main use is the remote control of computers for disabled people. In its due course, the corporation aims to be able to control external limbs, such as the usage of an exoskeleton regaining muscle movement or even assisting with memory and brain capacity. This, alone, appears to be a phenomenal cause that brings a hopeful future for the daily endeavours of disabled people.


However, there is suspicion of Neuralink’s capabilities. If it claims to control body parts, what could be its effect on the brain? The main risk is brain damage. As far as we know about the brain, the implant of a Neuralink device seems safe, though it could potentially lead to brain tissue damage. Of course, this damage might scale from headaches to infections or inflammations (causing risk of amnesia, the loss of short and long-term memory) or even death, in certain cases. Another risk of using Neuralink is the deformation of the brain’s structure, which is also obviously detrimental to one’s health. Also, the research on the use of this technology is somewhat premature, and the long-term effects of this technology cannot be accurately pinpointed. So, even if we have a deduction of its side effects of 1 year; we cannot be sure about 50 years. Moreover, by having a precise interpretation of all thoughts, this technology can be used in an ethically incorrect way, such as reading one’s thoughts. Also, the electrical current/signals frequently in contact with brain cells may be an issue. Through the presentation of an electronic chip and electrodes, the Neuralink can detect brain activity, though it may also alter chemical reactions in brain cells in the long-term timescale.


All the risks above are possibilities of issues when dealing with the brain, which may be emitted by the Neuralink. However, it is still too early to point exactly at the defects of the device, as only temporary short-term results are a base of evidence, and maybe most (or all) of the conditions above will be handled correctly by the team. So, it is certain that many alterations in our brain complex can have traumatising effects, which might include memory damage; but the Neuralink results haven’t yet shown any severe implications with the brain, and the largest issues were still on test subjects and the primary patient, which was almost forced to retract his device due to loose electrode threads. Therefore, it is important to keep attentive to Neuralink’s further impact on society, as its subsequent usage may make the world – or break it.


Sources:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies#:~:text=Electrodes%20are%20placed%20at%20precise,or%20feel%20the%20electrical%20pulses.
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