‘I got my life back’: Mississippi man uses brain implant to regain independence

Описание: RJ Tanner lives on a quiet farm in George County — far from major hospitals or technology hubs — but he’s one of the first people in the world to receive a Neuralink brain-computer interface.

The device, developed by the Elon Musk-founded neurotechnology company, is an implant that translates brain activity into digital commands. Put simply: Tanner, who was paralyzed from the neck down after a motorcycle crash four years ago, can now operate a computer with his thoughts.

“I went from not being able to do anything to moving the cursor on the computer within minutes,” Tanner said. “It absolutely gave me my sense of independence and freedom back.”

Before the accident, Tanner lived a “wide-open, full-throttle” life. A military veteran, he worked with the Child Rescue Initiative, helping to track down human traffickers and rescue victims in developing countries. He rode his motorcycle, took care of his farm and spent time with his four daughters.

“Seven days a week, 365, I was on a bike,” he said. “Then in a moment, I was paralyzed from the neck down. You can’t do anything. You can’t even scratch your nose. You have to depend on someone for every little thing in your life.”

He remembers when doctors told him he’d never move again.

“They said I’d be on a ventilator for the rest of my life,” he said. “The doctor asked, ‘What are your goals?’ and I told him, ‘I want to be as independent as possible.’ And he said, ‘Mr. Tanner, you have unrealistic expectations.’”

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