Neuralink is Musk's fourth company. He is also the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and OpenAI, a non-profit AI research company. He also leads a tunneling startup called The Boring Company.

Could Neuralink be used to treat psychological traumas like Netflix's Maniac?

Technology like Neuralink draws its inspiration from science fiction literature. It is reminiscent of some running themes on the big screen seen throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Examples include the Matrix, and of course, the 1990 classic, Total Recall

But the concept of direct mind-computer interfacing is also the inspiration behind Netflix's new ten-part series, Maniac.  

The series is set in a high-tech, dystopian future where an experimental pharmaceutical trial is tested on human subjects.

Participants take a series of three pills to replace cognitive-behavioral therapy for sufferers of psychological trauma. The pharmaceutical therapy, rather than erasing memories; instead has subjects put into a deep dream state.

Whilst comatose, patients are monitoring and guided through their dreams using a supercomputer.  

Whilst the premise is clearly science-fiction, Maniac does incorporate some real facets of our current understanding of psychology. Much of the technology and science used in the show, like ink-blot tests and brain monitors, exist in real life.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, for example, is a real-life treatment for trauma and grief today. It is used to help guide a patient towards being able to deal with their problems and is often used in conjunction with medication. 

The only thing missing is a method of connecting human brains to the supercomputer. That's where Neuralink could, to borrow a phrase, 'bridge the connection.'

It is not too far fetched for a similar therapy to be developed using Neuralink in the future. Who knows, Maniac, might one day become a reality. 

But, of course, only time will tell.