LogInNew research from UCSF with support from Facebook showed the potential of brain-computer interfaces for restoring speech communication.
UCSF with support from Facebook has created a new neural interface that demonstrated the first time someone with severe speech loss has been able to type out what they wanted to say almost instantly, simply by attempting to speak. In other words, UCSF has restored a person’s ability to communicate by decoding brain signals sent from the motor cortex to the vocal tract. This study marks an important milestone for the field of neuroscience, and it concludes Facebook’s years-long collaboration with UCSF’s Chang Lab.
"The room was full of UCSF scientists and equipment – monitors and cables everywhere. But his eyes were fixed on a single screen displaying two simple words: “Good morning!” Though unable to speak, he attempted to respond, and the word “Hello” appeared. The screen went black, replaced by another conversational prompt: “How are you today?” This time, he attempted to say, “I am very good,” and once again, the words appeared on the screen," the team described the event.
It was the first time in over 16 years that the patient had been able to communicate without having to use a cumbersome head-mounted apparatus to type out what he wanted to say, after experiencing near full paralysis of his limbs and vocal tract following a series of strokes. Now he simply had to attempt speaking, and a computer could share those words in real-time – no typing required.
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