Table of Contents
Neuralink, a company founded by Elon Musk, has started looking for people for its first tests with humans.
These tests are part of the company’s PRIME Study, which stands for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface. This study with humans is to find out if brain implants can be used safely and effectively to help people with paralysis.
In this study, a robot will put a special chip in the part of the brain that controls movement. The chip will record and send signals from the brain to a computer app. Neuralink hopes that with this chip, people can control a keyboard and mouse by thinking about it.
People who have quadriplegia because of a spinal cord injury in their neck or a condition called ALS can possibly join this study.
The study will last for six years. There will be many visits to a hospital and doctors visiting the patients’ homes. People interested in joining the study can sign up on Neuralink’s website.
Elon Musk’s company has been working on this idea for about five years, but so far, they have only tested on animals. There was some trouble when a monkey died during one of the tests in 2022. They were testing to see if a monkey could play the video game Pong.
Before these brain implants can be used by more people, they need to get approval from the FDA. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is an organization that checks if medical treatments are safe.
Vocabulary
- Founded – started; began; created
- Test – to do something to learn if it is safe, works correctly, etc.; try out
- Human – a person; a man, woman or child
- Study – the activity of examining/studying something in detail to discover new information; research; investigation
- Stands for – Short for; means; represents
- Find out – discover; learn; understand
- Brain – 🧠; the organ in humans and animals that we use to think
- Implant – to put something into someone’s body; something that is put inside a person’s body
- Effective – when something works well and does what it is supposed to do
- Paralysis – the loss of ability to move parts of your body; when you can’t move a body part
- Chip – a small electronic thing inside computers; a set of electronic circuits on a small flat piece of silicon:
- Movement – the act or action of moving your body or parts of your body; motion
- Record – To save information for later; to keep information for the future, by writing it down or storing it on a computer
- Signal – A message that is sent from one place to another;
- App (application) – software, especially for smartphones and tablets
- Quadriplegia – the medical condition when you can’t move both your arms and legs
- Spinal cord – A bunch of nerves that runs down your back and connects your brain to the rest of your body
- Injury – wound; damage to the body; broken body part
- Medical condition – A medical problem; a specific health issue or problem that a person may have with their body or mind
- Patient – Someone who receives medical treatment or care; a person being helped by a doctor
- Sign up – to join; to apply for; agree to do something
- Approval – the action of approving; acceptance; to give the OK; agreement
- Organization – a group of people with one purpose; an agency; a society; company
- Treatment – medical care; surgery; the process of fixing an injury or illness
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- What do you think about the idea of using brain implants to help people with paralysis? Is it a good idea, or do you have concerns?
- How would you feel about having a robot place a chip in your brain? Do you think it would be safe and effective?
- What do you think the future of brain implant technology is?
- Do you think that brain implants should be used to enhance natural human abilities? Why or why not?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Discussion Questions
Neuralink, a company _____ by Elon Musk, has started looking for people for its first _____ with humans.
These tests are _____ of the company’s PRIME Study, which stands for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface. This _____ with humans is to find out if brain implants can be used safely and _____ to help people with paralysis.
In this study, a _____ will put a special chip in the part of the brain that controls _____. The chip will record and send signals from the _____to a computer app. Neuralink hopes that with this chip, people can _____ a keyboard and mouse by thinking about it.
People who have quadriplegia _____ of a spinal cord injury in their neck or a condition called ALS can possibly _____ this study.
The study will last for _____ years. There will be many visits to a hospital and doctors visiting the patients’ homes. _____ interested in joining the study can sign up _____ Neuralink’s website.
Elon Musk’s company has been working on this _____ for about five years, but so far, they have only tested on _____. There was some trouble when a monkey died during one of the tests in _____. They were testing to see if a monkey could play the video game _____.
Before these brain _____ can be used by more people, they need to get approval from the FDA. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is an _____ that checks if medical treatments are _____.
