Scientists Develop Brain Implant To Turn Thoughts Into Speech

In a groundbreaking development, scientists at Stanford University have created a brain implant that can decode and vocalize words a person is merely imagining in their head. Tested on four people with severe paralysis, the device monitors brain activity related to speech patterns and translates it into text in real-time. While imagined speech signals were weaker than attempted speech, the system still achieved up to 74% recognition accuracy. “This work gives real hope that speech BCIs can one day restore communication that is as fluent, natural and comfortable as conversational speech,” said lead researcher Frank Willett. To protect privacy, the team developed a “password” system that blocks the device from decoding unless the user mentally unlocks it. This pioneering technology could dramatically improve communication for people with severe speech and motor impairments. (UPI)