How many humans have had Neuralink
So, five people. That's the number as of early 2025 — five humans who've officially gotten a Neuralink thingy stuck in their brain. First one was Noland Arbaugh, back in January 2024. Since then, four more folks joined the PRIME Study, which is basically Neuralink's big test to see if this wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) is safe and actually works. Company's been pretty open about the second, third, and fourth patients, but the fifth? That one slipped through clinical trial records and company updates, not a big announcement.
How many patients are currently enrolled in the Neuralink PRIME Study?
The PRIME Study — that stands for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface, if you care — is still taking people. Right now, five individuals have the implant. Neuralink's talking about growing that number through 2025, maybe hitting 10 or 12 by year's end. They're only looking at folks with quadriplegia from cervical spinal cord injuries or ALS. That's the pool.
What is the status of the first three Neuralink patients?
Noland Arbaugh, patient one, got his implant in January 2024. Things went weird for a bit — some of those ultra-thin electrode threads pulled back from his brain tissue, and he lost some function. But then a software update fixed most of it. Patient two? No name released, got theirs in July 2024. Surgery went smooth, and they're already playing video games and messing around with CAD software, which is wild. Patient three came in late 2024, and Neuralink says it was uneventful — good signal quality from the start.
What complications have been reported with Neuralink implants?
One big one so far. With the first patient, those electrode threads — they're stupidly thin — retracted from the brain after surgery. Cut down the number of working electrodes. Neuralink tweaked the recording algorithm, pushed a software update, and boom, functionality came back. For the second patient, they used a different surgical approach to stop that from happening again, and no issues there. Nothing else serious has been reported for the others. Yet.
Who are the Neuralink patients so far?
- Patient1 (Noland Arbaugh, January 2024): 29-year-old guy, quadriplegic from a diving accident. Now he's controlling a cursor and playing chess with his mind. Seriously.
- Patient 2 (July 2024): Some unnamed person with quadriplegia. Playing video games and learning CAD software with the implant.
- Patient 3 (Late 2024): Another unnamed participant. Successful implant, device working fine so far.
- Patient 4 (Early 2025): Unnamed, confirmed through trial updates.
- Patient 5 (Early 2025): The newest one, showed up in trial registries.
Data Table: Neuralink Human Implant Timeline
| Patient Number | Implant Date | Publicly Named? | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 2024 | Yes (Noland Arbaugh) | Threads retracted, fixed with software update |
| 2 | July 2024 | No | Working great, playing games |
| 3 | Late 2024 | No | Good signal from the start |
| 4 | Early 2025 | No | Trial still ongoing |
| 5 | Early 2025 | No | Trial still ongoing |
What is the goal of the Neuralink human trial?
This is a first-in-human trial, so it's all about safety and does the N1 Implant — a fully wireless BCI — actually work? The big dream is letting paralyzed people control computers and phones with just their thoughts. They're also tracking long-term safety and performance. Neuralink's talked about future stuff like restoring movement and senses, but that's way down the line.
Expert Insights
Dr. Kip Ludwig, who used to run stuff at the National Institutes of Health and knows neural engineering, says five implants is a milestone but a tiny sample size. He thinks the focus should be on safety and reliability, and the real test comes when they expand to more patients with different conditions. Promising, he says, but early days — years of work before it's ready for regular people.
Checklist: What to know about Neuralink human trials
- Five people have Neuralink implants as of early 2025.
- First patient had electrode thread issues, fixed with a software patch.
- All patients have quadriplegia and are in the PRIME Study.
- The device lets you control computers with your thoughts.
- Neuralink wants up to 12 patients by end of 2025.
- The FDA's watching this trial closely.
- Long-term safety data? Still being collected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Neuralink safe for humans?
From the five patients so far, it's been okay. One complication — thread retraction — got fixed with software. The FDA approved the study, so it meets basic safety standards. But long-term? Nobody knows yet.
Can I sign up to be a Neuralink patient?
There's a patient registry for the PRIME Study. You need quadriplegia from a spinal cord injury or ALS. No plans to open it up to other conditions yet. Check Neuralink's website if you're interested.
How much does a Neuralink implant cost?
Neuralink hasn't said. Since it's a trial, they cover everything — surgery, follow-up, all of it. If it gets approved commercially, they'll figure out pricing later.
When will Neuralink be available to the public?
No timeline. The PRIME Study is early-stage, and it needs to pass more trials and get FDA approval. That's years away, even with fast-track stuff.
Short Summary
- First patient: Noland Arbaugh, implanted in January 2024, experienced a complication that was resolved.
- Trial scope: All participants have quadriplegia and are part of the FDA-approved PRIME Study.
- Future outlook: Neuralink aims to enroll up to 12 patients by the end of 2025, with the goal of eventual commercial availability.