Channel count is the number of separate brain signals an implant can record at once.
More channels give the decoder a clearer picture of what the person intends, which is what Elon Musk means by a higher-bandwidth BCI. The N1 has 1,024, Terence (Terry) Mandable's VOICE implant has 3,000, and Neuralink's 2025 roadmap aims for about 10,000 in 2027 and 25,000 in 2028 (Summer 2025 update).
