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Neuralink, the brain-chip venture led by entrepreneur Elon Musk, has started a pioneering study to evaluate the efficacy of its innovative device. But first, it needs to enroll three participants into the program.

The study, anticipated to span several years, reportedly seeks to assess the functionality of the implant designed to empower paralyzed individuals with the ability to interact with digital interfaces through neural signals.

Initial plans by Neuralink had aimed to recruit ten patients for clinical trials, as reported last year. The company's focus lies in testing its revolutionary implant, which holds promise in granting individuals with spinal cord injuries newfound capabilities solely through thought.

Prior to the recent disclosure of trial particulars, Neuralink encountered scrutiny from experts in brain implant technology and former regulatory officials for the absence of study details, a standard practice within the industry.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) greenlit the clinical trial, it emphasized the importance of transparency in study disclosures to foster public trust and acknowledge patient contributions, though refraining from commenting specifically on Neuralink's initiative.

Requests for comment from Neuralink executives remained unanswered.

Scheduled for completion by 2026 with a final projection for 2031, Neuralink's study targets individuals aged 22 to 75 grappling with conditions such as quadriplegia. Eligible candidates must exhibit minimal mobility for at least a year, with a life expectancy exceeding 12 months, as per Reuters.

Participants must demonstrate severe limitations in hand, wrist, and arm movement due to spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as per the eligibility criteria outlined in the database.

Described as a "first-in-human early feasibility study," the trial commenced in January, utilizing robotic assistance for the precise implantation of a brain-computer interface (BCI) within the brain's motor cortex-an area governing voluntary movement.

Early this year, Neuralink marked a significant milestone with the successful implantation of the device in Noland Arbaugh, its inaugural patient paralyzed from the shoulders down since a 2016 diving accident.

Company updates reveal Arbaugh's ability to engage in activities such as gaming, internet browsing, and cursor manipulation on a laptop, all achieved through neural commands.