Neuralink aims to implant ‘Blindsight’ chip in first human by 2025 | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Neuralink aims to implant ‘Blindsight’ chip in first human by 2025

Posted 01 Apr 2025

2 min read

Earlier, Blindsight was designated as a ‘breakthrough device’ by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

About Blindsight

  • It is a Brain Computer Interface (BCI) implant that aims to restore vision by bypassing the retina and directly stimulating the visual cortex. 
    • Visual cortex is a region of the cerebral cortex (outermost layer of nerve cell tissues) that is responsible for processing visual data relayed from the retinas
  • Blindsight consists of microelectrode array, embedded in the visual cortex, capable of stimulating neurons or nerve cells. 

About BCI 

  • BCI is a system that process brain activity and send signals to external software, allowing a user to control devices with their thoughts.
  • Applications: 
    • Healthcare: Diagnosing brain disorders, assistive technologies for physically challenged people etc. 
    • Communication and Control: Decoding of thoughts, smart device control, environmental auto-adjustment systems etc.
    • Commercial Applications: Transportation, Advertisements etc.
    • Others: Games and entertainment, security and authentication, neurofeedback and enhancement of brain functions etc. 
  • Concerns:
    • Usability challenge: Limitations to user acceptance of BCI technology utilization.
    • Safety Issues: Tissue damage, seizures, cognitive impairment etc. and long-term impact including are not fully understood. 
    • Ethical concerns regarding informed consent.
  • Tags :
  • Neuralink
  • Brain Computer Interface
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