Brain implants, software guide speech-disabled person’s intended words to computer screen

Our brains remember how to formulate words even if the muscles responsible for saying them out loud are incapacitated. A brain-computer hookup is making the dream of restoring speech a reality in a Stanford Medicine study, which includes Wu Tsai Neuro affiliates.

brain implants guide speech-disabled persons
Frank Willett operates software that translates Pat Bennett's attempts at speech — recorded by sensors in her brain — into words on a screen. Photo by Steve Fisch.