Researchers Translate Thoughts into Speech, Potentially Allowing "Locked-In" Patients to Communicate
Neurons By measuring the electrical signals made in certain parts of the brain when its thinking of certain words, researchers could create a means to translate thoughts into speech. MethoxyRoxy via Wikimedia In an effort to unlock the speech capacity in patients who cannot speak because of so-called "locked-in syndrome," University of Utah researchers have successfully demonstrated that they can translate brain signals into words using electrode grids placed beneath the skull. Sort of. The method leaves a lot of room for improvement, but it does prove out some technology that could make thought-to-speech technology more reliable for patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries or illnesses that render them unable to communicate with others. Using two grids of 16 microelectrodes placed over two regions of the brain known to generate human speech, the team was able to record brain signals for 10 useful words - yes, no, hot, cold, thirsty, hungry, goodbye,...