American scientists from Stanford University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute have developed a first-of-its-kind brain implant that allows completely paralyzed people to translate their thoughts into words on a screen. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Nature.
Experts implanted sensors in speech-related areas of the cerebral cortex in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The devices were able to accurately interpret a person’s attempts to pronounce certain words and convert them into text on the screen.
The study involved placing microelectrode arrays in the ventral premotor cortex and Broca’s area. The thought recognition efficiency of the neural decoder was 94%. The person was able to communicate at a rate of 62 words per minute; This corresponds to a normal speech rate.
According to the scientists, the system they have created so far only serves as a proof of concept, not a real device that people can use in daily life. But the technology represents a major step forward in the quest to restore the ability to communicate to completely paralyzed people.
Previously paralyzed patient First He published a post on social network X using his Neuralink brain chip.