Audrey Crews, a 35-year-old woman from Louisiana, has become the first female patient to receive a Neuralink brain chip, regaining the ability to interact with a computer using only her thoughts; despite being fully paralysed for 20 years.
In July 2025, Crews underwent brain implant surgery as part of Neuralink’s PRIME clinical trial. The trial is designed to test the N1 brain-computer interface (BCI) chip in patients with severe paralysis or neurological disorders.
Crews had lost all physical mobility at age 16 after a car accident damaged her C4 and C5 vertebrae, leaving her a quadriplegic. For the first time in two decades, she was able to write her name, draw images, and operate a computer, all through her thought.
Neuralink’s system involves:
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A quarter-sized chip implanted in the motor cortex of the brain.
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128 ultra-thin threads (thinner than human hair) embedded into the cortex.
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Over 1,000 electrodes detect neural spikes when a person thinks about movement.
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The chip is wirelessly powered and connects to external devices via Bluetooth.
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Neural signals are then interpreted by Neuralink’s software to control cursors, type, draw, or scroll entirely by thought.
Audrey describes it as:
“Imagine your pointer finger is left click and the cursor is your wrist, without doing it physically.”
Crews has been able to:
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Write her name in cursive using a virtual graphics editor.
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Draw hearts, flowers, rainbows, and faces based on social media requests.
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Use a keyboard and mouse mentally.
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Share artwork online and expressed plans to write a book using the system.
She describes it as “just a normal day using telepathy.”
The implant however does not restore physical movement or sensation. It cannot read general thoughts, only specific brain signals related to movement.
Performance may also degrade over time. For instance, the first Neuralink patient, Noland Arbaugh, experienced a partial disconnection that required recalibration.
Elon Musk, Neuralink’s co-founder, responded to Crews’ progress, saying:
“She is controlling her computer just by thinking. Most people don’t realize this is possible.”
Musk and Neuralink envision future upgrades that could enhance human cognition, treat brain disorders, and eventually merge humans with AI, but such capabilities are not yet realized.
Audrey Crews says she feels liberated and hopes to inspire others with her story. She’s the ninth Neuralink patient and the first woman to receive the chip..
She plans to continue practicing, sharing more videos and drawings online, and writing her memoir, stating:
“I’ve been a quadriplegic since 16, so I have a lot to tell.”
