We've been exploring how clinical trial participants can control a powered wheelchair — with their minds. Here's how we’re doing it 🧵

The Neuralink implant has over 1,000 electrodes sitting across over 100 threads, each thinner than a human hair and inserted into the motor cortex by our surgical robot. The electrodes record the activity of neurons that fire as a participant intends to move.

A machine learning model maps that neural activity to a computer cursor moving up, down, left, and right. The result is a decoding algorithm that enables the participant to control the cursor with their thoughts.

Our participants see a live video feed from a wheelchair mounted camera. As they move the cursor with their thoughts, they can drive forward, reverse, steer, and even adjust seating positions.

We're studying how participants can navigate real-world environments using this system. There’s more to do, but this provides a glimpse into how Neuralink can help restore independent mobility for people with paralysis.

Neuralink devices are investigational and have not been approved by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. This video features voluntary clinical trial participants sharing their personal experiences, which may not reflect all participants or future outcomes.

That dumb broad from @TheEconomist asked if we should be afraid of @elonmusk . I’m afraid of what our world would be like without him. Amazing work by Neuralink, Tesla, SpaceXAI, and The Boring Company to literally change our world (and beyond!).

🚀❤️

Neuralink is the Jesus level technology 💯

How long until they can pilot giant robots?

Amazing! Must feel so liberating for these individuals

Awesome!

So cool and doing so much good ❤️

Amazing work! Open to a race? 🧠 vs 👅

Waiting for @ZacksJerryRig to shit on Elon and Neuralink ... This tech is life changing!

@SawyerMerritt Call the feature Xavier. Bonus: it shortens to X, @elonmusk

How about a using on a soccerchair?!

Give them Optimus from the legs down to replace their original legs.

Neuralink will change the future of the humanity for good.

Amazing work!!! Perhaps give the chair FSD, too. That way the human has the same sort of autopilot fully abled people have while walking (can let mind wander and look at other things), but better

Seems uncustomary for everyone vehicles are computers. Explanation is that the mind is one with the cursor. Truly amazing and wonderful ❤️

Any thoughts on adapting FSD for wheelchairs? Where the user just has to think of a destination point and the wheelchair drives there?

OK I'll take two orders of telepathic Wheelchairs and two implants to go please? Space X options? Which include the transforming options for w drone mode for vertical launch and landing? have it super sized? A have a custom similar to Racaro air bladder to reduce pressure?

This is so cool. Such a beautiful thing to give people the freedom to maneuver. And how amazing that they're controlling it with their mind. Neuralink rocks. 👏

@neuralink, I have invented a device closely related to your work; once this gadget hits the market, you will rule the digital world—I promise you that!!!

Neuralink is indeed life changing.Huge thanks to all engineers behind this

Can the blind see using your technology?

Amazing

Science fiction made real. Unreal

That is so beautiful. God bless you all in this amazing project.

The wheelchair is ordinary. Neuralink replaced its joystick with movement decoded from the participant’s brain. How the system works and why it can extend beyond wheelchairs:

I wonder how much mental focus it requires to drive that thing

This is really cool. I think the only thing I would aim at for a user improvement would be to find some way to control it without the visual interface. Don't get me wrong here, the mind controlled wheel chair is an absolutely awesome game changer, but for another level of freedom the user should be able to look around and enjoy the surroundings without needing a screen. Maybe some way of mapping the interface so the screen is for training and then eventually not needed as the user becomes advanced? Just an idea 🤷 Amazing work though 👍👍 That shits awesome!!!! 💯👍👍

Professor X vibes

🧠 The chip reads motor cortex signals. ML decodes them into directional commands. No hand. No joystick. No voice. Pure intention translated into movement in real time. What most people missed: a paralyzed man in China did this 5 days after implant surgery last December. Neuralink isn't alone in this race anymore. The brain figured out how to talk to machines faster than anyone predicted...!!

What is the cognitive load required to drive the chair? Full undivided concentration or passive natural flow?

🙌🧠🖇️💻

20 years ago @ToyotaMotorCorp presented the concept of a mobility vehicle for city centres that was an evolution of a wheelchair with scooter capabilities. @Tesla should get in the mobility vehicles market @elonmusk and together with Neuralink bring similar product to the market.

Most awesome team ever Changing lives gives hope and life