In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Tel Aviv University and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital) have demonstrated that a person can “speak” using only the power of thought.
This breakthrough offers hope for individuals who are completely paralyzed, such as those with ALS, brainstem strokes, or severe brain injuries, enabling them to communicate again.
The study, led by Dr. Ariel Tankus and Dr. Ido Strauss, was published in the journal Neurosurgery.
It involved an epilepsy patient who had depth electrodes implanted in his brain to locate the source of his seizures. These electrodes also provided a unique opportunity to study the brain’s speech processes.
Dr. Tankus explained, “The patient in our study was undergoing treatment for epilepsy. To precisely locate the epileptic focus, electrodes were implanted deep in his brain. This allowed us to record brain activity while he was hospitalized, waiting for a seizure.”
In the first part of the experiment, the patient was asked to say two syllables out loud: /a/ and /e/. The researchers recorded his brain activity during this process. Using advanced artificial intelligence, they trained a computer to recognize the specific brain cells activated when the patient spoke these sounds.
Next, the patient was asked to imagine saying the syllables without actually speaking. Remarkably, the computer successfully translated the electrical signals from his brain and played the pre-recorded sounds of /a/ or /e/.
Dr. Tankus noted, “This is the first time we’ve been able to link specific brain cell activity to speech sounds. We distinguished between the signals for /a/ and /e/, which is a significant step towards more complex speech.”
Currently, the system can only interpret two syllables, but even this limited capability can be life-changing. For example, a paralyzed person could use these sounds to signal “yes” or “no.” In the future, the system could be trained to recognize more complex speech patterns, potentially allowing for full conversations.
Dr. Tankus highlighted the potential for ALS patients, saying, “We could train a computer to recognize the brain signals of an ALS patient while they can still speak. Later, when they lose the ability to move their muscles, the computer would interpret their thoughts and translate them into speech.”
This study marks a significant step toward developing brain-computer interfaces that can replace the brain’s control pathways for speech production. Such technology could enable completely paralyzed individuals to communicate voluntarily with their surroundings once again, vastly improving their quality of life.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and Coconut oil could help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s.
