Who is Neuralink's first ever human trial patient? Former athlete Noland Arbaugh, 29, was left paralyzed after a diving accident at a children's camp eight years ago

A paraplegic man has been able to play a game of chess by only using his mind thanks to a brain chip created by Elon Musk's company Neuralink.

The device, which has been stitched into Noland Arbaugh's brain, has allowed him to control a computer cursor and play video games just by thinking.

'See that cursor on the screen? That's all me... it's all brainpower,' said the beaming 29-year-old as he controlled the computer from his wheelchair.

The chip's recent success is an incredible development and has strengthened beliefs among experts that the technology could revolutionise care for the disabled.

But who is the Arizona man who has successfully used the brain-computer interface (BCI)? Dailymail.com takes a look into Neuralink's first-ever human trial patient Noland Arbaugh.

Noland Arbaugh (pictured), 29, who was left with no feeling from the shoulders down has moved a cursor just by thinking 

But who is the former athlete? Dailymail.com take a look at Neuralink's first ever human trail patient Noland Arbaugh (pictured)

Who is Noland Arbaugh? 

Noland Arbaugh is the first human trial patient to have Neuralink's chip inserted into his brain.

In January 2024, the former Christian athlete had the brain-computer interface (BCI) stitched into the brain by a 'sewing machine-like' robot.

Arbaugh claimed that the 30-minute procedure, where the 'sewing robot' removed a small chunk of skull was 'super easy' and there 'was nothing to be afraid of'.

In June 2016 the former Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M suffered a life-changing driving accident whilst working as a camp counselor.

As a result, the 29-year-old was paralyzed and had 'absolutely no feeling' from the shoulders down.

11 months after his incident, family and friends rallied around the young man, organising a fundraiser for a wheelchair accessible van.

Although the former Texas A&M University student had received a great deal of support, he was struggling with 'his lack of mobility', according to his GoFundMe page.

Due to his paraplegia, the young man has to be transported in a 'bulky' electric wheelchair, making it difficult for him to travel to medical appointments.

The former Texas A&M University student was paralyzed from the shoulders down after a driving accident whilst working at a camp (pictured: Noland)

The ex-Christian athlete struggled with his 'lack of mobility' following the accident, with his friends and family rallying around him with support (pictured on the bed: Noland)

In a bid to try and raise the cash for the much-needed vehicle, Arbaugh's family sold red bracelets branded with #NolandStrong.

Eventually, his supporters exceeded their $10,000 goal so they could buy the 'game-changing' van in June 2017.

Thanking Arbaugh's supporters when the van arrived, Mia Nealy wrote on his family's behalf: 'This is a huge milestone for Noland and his family.

'However, Noland still has a long road ahead of him and still requires lots of specialized equipment for day-to-day living.'

The former camp counsellor, who loved to play chess prior to his accident, was ecstatic in the breathtaking clip posted by Neuralink on March 21, 2024.

Sitting next to Neuralink engineer Bliss Chapman whilst playing the game, he said: 'This is one of the things that y'all have enabled me to do... '

Likening his new ability to move devices with his mind to 'The Force' from Star Wars, he added: 'I wasn't really able to do much the last few years.'

In a bid to raise $10,000 for a much-needed van, his supporters took to GoFundMe and sold red bracelets (pictured) with #NolandStrong 

How does the Neuralink chip work? 

The brain is packed with cells called neurons, which send messages to other parts of our body - including our nerves and muscles.

The chip is placed into a section of the brain that controls our intention to move and can read these signals via electrodes.

After being received by the Neuralink chip, these messages are then translated into motor controls that have the ability to operate external devices, such as smartphones, computers or even muscle movement.

To apply the technology, a computer chip is sown into the brain with tiny flexible threads by a 'sewing-machine-like' robot.

During the 30-minute procedure, the 'sewing robot' removes a small chunk of the skull and attaches the thread-like electrodes to certain areas of the brain.

Following this, the hole is sewn up and the only visible scar left behind is from the minuscule incision.

According to Musk, no general anaesthesia is required for the operation and patients will be able to go back home the very same day.

The stunning tech development comes only a month after Elon Musk declared that the first chip had been implanted into a human.

The chip is sown with tiny flexible threads into a section of the brain that controls our intention to move (left to right: Neuralink engineer Bliss Chapman and Noland)

Noland was ecstatic in the breathtaking clip, expressing how much he loved playing chess before his accident, adding: 'I wasn't really able to do much the last few years'

Elon Musk (pictured), who founded Neuralink, claimed a month before that the chip would allow patients to control a mouse with their minds

Musk said back then that the first human patient would be able to eventually control a mouse with only his mind.

In a Spaces event on X, the Tesla co-founder said: 'Progress is good and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with neural effects that we are aware of.'

More recently Musk reposted the stunning footage of Arbaugh, describing his actions as 'telepathy'.

He wrote in the caption: 'Livestream of Neuralink demonstrating 'Telepathy' – controlling a computer and playing video games just by thinking.'