First human with Neuralink brain implant is now playing Mario Kart and Civilization V1

It has been over 100 days since the US-based Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old quadriplegia patient became the first human to receive Neuralink implant called ‘Link’. Now, a blog post by Neuralink dated 8 May claims that Arbaugh is able to play a number of popular video games including Civilization V1, Chess, Slay The Spire, and Mario Kart on a Nintendo Switch console – beating his friends in the games.

“I’m beating my friends in games that, as a quadriplegic, I should not be beating them in,” said Arbaugh in the Neuralink blog post, “Y’all are giving me too much, it’s like a luxury overload. I haven’t been able to do these things in 8 years, and now I don’t know where to even start allocating my attention.” Arbaugh added

Arbaugh caught the quadriplegic condition after a 2016 car accident. He was previously dependent on an assistive device known as a mouth stick that allows the patient to operate a touchscreen when placed in the mouth. Arbaugh wasn’t satisfied with the device as it required a caretaker to place the device in his mouth every time he wanted to use it, and he was also carrying the risk of developing side effects like pressure soars and muscle spasms.

“The biggest thing with comfort is that I can lie in my bed and use (the Link). Any other assistive technology had to have someone else help or have me sit up. Sitting causes stress mentally and on my body which would give me pressure sores or spasms. It lets me live on my own time, not needing to have someone adjust me throughout the day.” said Arbaugh

“[The Link] has helped me reconnect with the world, my friends, and my family. It’s given me the ability to do things on my own again without needing my family at all hours of the day and night.” Arbaugh adds

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