Noland Arbaugh doesn’t need his hands to move a computer cursor anymore. Instead, he simply thinks, and the computer reacts. In January 2024, the 30-year-old became the first person to receive a thought-controlled brain implant from a neurotechnology startup in the United States. This milestone marked a new chapter in Noland’s life after eight years of paralysis from the shoulders down due to a diving accident in 2016.
The brain implant allows Noland to control a computer using only his thoughts. It translates signals from his brain into digital actions—a concept that once seemed like science fiction. While other companies have worked on similar technologies, Noland’s case gained significant attention, partly due to the company’s high-profile founder. Despite this, Noland stresses that the focus should remain on the science, not the personalities. He volunteered with full awareness of the risks, with one goal in mind: to contribute to something that could help others.
“If it works, I help future patients. If it fails, researchers learn something,” he explained.
Regaining Control After Years of Dependence
Before the surgery, Noland had to rely on others for almost every aspect of his life. The loss of independence was overwhelming. “You feel like you have no privacy, no independence,” he said. The chip changed that.
The device is called a brain-computer interface (BCI). It detects the brain’s electrical signals when a person thinks about movement. It then converts those signals into actions on a computer. For Noland, this meant he could move a cursor just by imagining a finger twitch.
Though scientists have worked on this technology for decades, the involvement of a high-profile founder brought it into the public eye. Investors quickly supported the startup, while critics voiced concerns about safety. Experts hailed the implant as a major breakthrough, but many cautioned that time would be needed to evaluate its long-term success. The company’s founder kept a low profile, but Noland recalls their private discussions. “He seemed just as excited as I was,” he said.
Despite the media attention, Noland insists that this isn’t about a single individual. He doesn’t see it as “someone’s device”—to him, it represents scientific progress.
From Sci-Fi to Chess Matches with Friends
When Noland first used the chip, he watched as his thoughts moved a cursor across a screen. “It was surreal,” he said. As engineers cheered, he understood the significance of the moment. Over time, his ability to control the device improved. Now, he’s playing video games again—something he never thought possible.
“I used to play constantly,” he said. “Losing that was heartbreaking. Now I’m beating my friends again, and it feels incredible.”
However, some experts are cautious about the rapid pace of development. Anil Seth, a neuroscientist at the University of Sussex, warned that accessing brain signals directly could raise ethical concerns. “If people can access thoughts, privacy could disappear entirely,” he said.
For Noland, though, the future is full of possibilities. He hopes one day to use the chip to control a wheelchair or even operate a robotic assistant. The technology’s potential excites him, but the journey hasn’t been entirely smooth.
At one point, the chip disconnected from his brain and stopped working. “I thought it was over,” he recalled. Fortunately, technicians fixed the issue by updating the software, and the connection improved. But the incident highlighted the current limitations of the technology.
A New Race to Decode the Brain
Noland’s case isn’t unique. Other companies are also racing to connect minds to machines. One competitor, Synchron, developed a chip that doesn’t require brain surgery. Instead, doctors insert it through the neck and guide it to the brain via blood vessels.
Like Noland’s device, Synchron’s chip connects to the motor region of the brain. It picks up signals when a person imagines tapping their fingers, which are then translated into digital commands. Ten people currently use Synchron’s version. One user even connected it to a Vision Pro headset to explore virtual worlds. “I’ve visited waterfalls in Australia and walked across New Zealand mountains,” he said.
This technology could drastically improve the quality of life for people living with paralysis. But for Noland, this is just the beginning. He has joined a six-year study to explore further possibilities. Beyond that, the future remains uncertain.