New brain-computer interface gives ALS patients a voice

The technology showcases rapid training capabilities and significant word accuracy rates, offering transformative potential for restoring communication for ALS patients and others with similar conditions.
ALS

Researchers at UC Davis Health have developed a groundbreaking brain-computer interface (BCI) that has enabled a man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to communicate by transforming his brain activity into text, which is then read aloud by a computer. The innovative system, detailed in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, boasts an impressive 97% accuracy, making it the most accurate speech neuroprosthesis of its kind. The technology works by interpreting brain signals when the user attempts to speak, converting those signals into words that are then vocalised by a computer.

The patient, 45-year-old Casey Harrell, who has ALS, participated in the BrainGate clinical trial to test the device. Harrell had significant difficulty speaking due to his condition, but the BCI system allowed him to communicate both in prompted and spontaneous settings with remarkable accuracy. During the initial training session, the system achieved nearly 100% word accuracy within 30 minutes and continued to perform well even as the vocabulary expanded to over 125,000 words.

Why does this matter?

The following advancement is particularly significant for those with ALS or similar conditions impairing speech, offering a new avenue for communication that was previously slow and error-prone. The success of this technology provides hope that more patients will be able to reconnect with their loved ones and society, overcoming the communication barriers imposed by their conditions.