Additional Coverage:
- A stroke survivor speaks again with the help of an experimental brain-computer implant (nbcnews.com)
Groundbreaking Brain-Computer Interface Gives Voice Back to Stroke Patient
In a remarkable advancement for speech neuroprosthetics, scientists have developed a device capable of translating thoughts into spoken words in real time. This innovative brain-computer interface (BCI) offers hope for individuals who have lost the ability to speak due to neurological conditions.
Researchers recently tested the device on a 47-year-old woman who had been unable to speak for 18 years following a stroke. As part of a clinical trial, the device was surgically implanted in her brain, and the results were astounding.
According to study co-author Gopala Anumanchipalli of the University of California, Berkeley, the device effectively “converts her intent to speak into fluent sentences.” The study was published Monday in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
This new BCI represents a significant leap forward from existing technology. Previous speech BCIs often experienced delays between thought and verbalization, disrupting the flow of conversation. This new device operates in real time, processing speech in 80-millisecond chunks – roughly half a syllable – creating a more natural and fluid communication experience.
The team in California utilized a novel approach, training an AI model to translate neural activity into units of sound. They recorded the woman’s brain activity as she silently formed sentences and then used a synthesizer created with recordings of her own voice from before her stroke. This personalized approach contributes to the naturalness of the synthesized speech.
Jonathan Brumberg of the University of Kansas’ Speech and Applied Neuroscience Lab, who was not involved in the study, hailed the development as “a pretty big advance in our field.” He emphasized the significance of using pre-injury voice samples for a more natural-sounding output.
While further research and development are needed, Anumanchipalli believes this technology could be available to patients within a decade with continued investment. This breakthrough holds immense promise for restoring communication and improving the quality of life for countless individuals.