DAVIS, Calif. (KNX) — Out of 23 monkeys implanted with Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain chips at the University of California, Davis, between 2017 and 2020, at least 15 have died.
According to Business Insider, an animal-rights group discovered the daunting mortality rate after reviewing over 700 pages of veterinary records and reports via a public records request at UC Davis.
Neuralink chips were first developed in 2016 with the aim of treating depression and other mental health problems, as well as helping patients recover from brain and spinal cord injuries. Long-term, the chips were designed to be connected to the internet to facilitate direct streaming of music and communication to the human brain.
“Pretty much every single monkey that had had implants put in their head suffered from debilitating health effects,” said Jeremy Beckham, research advocacy director for the animal-rights group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “They were, frankly, maiming and killing the animals.”
The chips were implanted by drilling holes in the primates’ skulls. One monkey reportedly developed a skin infection as a result and had to be euthanized. Another was discovered with missing fingers and toes, “possibly from self-mutilation,” and also had to be euthanized.
A third monkey began uncontrollably vomiting after surgery and collapsed three days later due to “exhaustion” and “fatigue.” An autopsy revealed it had suffered a brain hemorrhage.
The PCRM filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday, accusing UC Davis and Neuralink of nine violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act. “These highly invasive implants and their associated hardware, which are inserted in the brain after drilling holes in the animals’ skulls, have produced recurring infections in the animals, significantly compromising their health, as well as the integrity of the research,” the complaint stated.
In response, a spokesperson for UC Davis said, “We strive to provide the best possible care to animals in our charge. Animal research is strictly regulated, and UC Davis follows all applicable laws and regulations including those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”
The spokesperson said UC Davis ceased affiliation with Neuralink in 2020. Neuralink has not issued a response to the complaint.
Musk previously said he hoped to begin human trials on Neuralink in 2021, but that date has since been pushed back to this year.
Related
