Restoring Speech Through Advanced Brain-Computer Interfaces

Researchers have successfully used a brain implant coupled with AI to enable a bilingual individual, unable to articulate words due to a stroke, to communicate in both English and Spanish. This development not only enhances our understanding of how the brain processes language but also opens up new possibilities for restoring speech to those unable to communicate verbally. Known as Pancho, the participant demonstrated the ability to form coherent sentences in both languages with impressive accuracy, thanks to the neural patterns recognized and translated by the AI system. The findings suggest that different languages may not occupy distinct areas of the brain as previously thought, hinting at a more integrated neural basis for multilingualism. This technology represents a significant leap forward in neuroprosthetics, offering hope for personalized communication restoration in multilingual individuals. Key Insights: Dual Language Decoding 🗣️ - The AI system can interpret and translate neural patterns into both Spanish and English, adjusting in real-time. High Accuracy 🎯 - Achieved an 88% accuracy in distinguishing between languages and 75% in decoding full sentences. Unified Brain Activity 🧠 - Challenges prior assumptions with findings that both languages activate similar brain areas. Future Applications 🔍 - Potential expansion to other languages with varying linguistic structures, enhancing universal applicability. Enhanced Connection 💬 - Focuses not just on word replacement but on restoring deep personal connections through communication. https://buff.ly/3V8SiXe?

People with certain neurological conditions can develop severe facial paralysis that hinders their lability to speak. Previous studies have shown speech can be decoded from brain activity, but only in the form of text and with limited speed and vocabulary. Team of researchers at UCSF neurosurgery developed a speech neuroprosthesis that can achieve high-performance and real-time decoding, which can subsequently be encoded to speech audio that mimick’s the patient’s pre-injury voice. This approach has substantial promise to restore full, embodied communication to people living with severe paralysis.

NEW Brain Implant Helps Voiceless ALS Patient Communicate A milestone in restoring the ability to communicate to people who have lost it, - more than three times as fast as the previous record, - beginning to approach natural conversation speed of ~160 words/min. Study Participant: 68 yo woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a degenerative disease that can eventually cause #paralysis. Study published in Nature: - Two #brain #implants with ~120 electrodes to monitor #neural activity. - Trained an algorithm to recognize her intended words over four months, then - Combined that with a #language model that predicts words based on the context. - Using 125,000-words vocabulary, - system decoded attempted speech at the rate of 62 words per min, - with a 24 percent word-error rate. - Accurate enough to generally get the gist of a sentence. These results show a feasible path forward for restoring rapid communication to people with paralysis who can no longer speak. Nature | August 23, 2023 ------------------------- Francis R. Willett, Erin Kunz, Chaofei Fan, Donald Avansino, Guy Wilson, Eun Young Choi, Foram Kamdar, Matthew Glasser, Leigh H., Shaul Druckmann, Krishna V. Shenoy, Jaimie Henderson  Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Brown University School of Engineering, Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Mass General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Washington University in St. Louis #innovation #technology #future #healthcare #medicine #health #management #startups #clinicalresearch #medtech #healthtech #scienceandtechnology #biotechnology #biotech #engineering #ai #research #science #rehabilitation #stroke #tbi #collaboration #electricalengineering #electrical #neuralnetwork #neuromodulation #personalizedmedicine #neurorehabilitation #braincomputerinterface #artificialintelligence #fda #disability #linkedin #news #precisionmedicine #communication #stanford #harvard #mgh #slp #neuroscience #als #brainstimulation

Incredible- With the help of AI, a paralyzed woman got her voice back A recent breakthrough in medical technology has allowed a paralyzed woman to regain her ability to speak using a brain implant and an AI-powered digital avatar. This implantable device, developed by researchers led by UCSF neurosurgeon Edward Chang, translates brain signals into modulated speech and facial expressions. Here are the key details about this remarkable achievement :- -Implantable Device: The brain implant is a small panel of electrodes that is implanted onto the patient's brain. It is powered by artificial intelligence and is capable of decoding the patient's thoughts into synthesized speech and facial expressions. -Translation of Brain Signals: The implant translates the patient's brain signals into modulated speech and facial expressions, allowing the patient to communicate through a digital avatar. This breakthrough technology enables the patient to express herself and communicate with others, even though she is paralyzed. Restoring Communication: This innovation has given the paralyzed woman her voice back after 18 years of being unable to speak due to a stroke. It offers hope to other paralyzed patients who have lost their ability to communicate verbally. -Impact of AI: The use of artificial intelligence in this brain implant technology has significantly advanced the field of assistive communication devices for paralyzed individuals. By harnessing the power of AI, this device can accurately decode and translate the patient's thoughts into speech and facial expressions. This groundbreaking achievement demonstrates the potential of AI-powered brain implants in restoring communication abilities for paralyzed individuals. It opens up new possibilities for improving the quality of life for those who have lost their ability to speak. #ai #artificialintelligence #futureofai #artificalintelligencenow #technology #innovation #aiusecases #ml #machinelearning #deeplearning