Study shows BCI system allows man to ‘speak’ accurately and operate digital platforms, unassisted, for prolonged period





A new study demonstrates that a person with severe paralysis caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can use a brain-computer interface (BCI) at home to communicate, work and interact with the digital world — without the need for researcher support. Published today in Nature Medicine, its results mark a significant step toward delivering practical, assistive technology for people with severe speech and motor impairments.

The BCI system was developed at UC Davis, in collaboration with colleagues at Brown University and Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute. It is equipped with advanced decoding algorithms that translate neural signals into text (speech BCI) and enable cursor control (movement BCI). It allows for full interaction with a personal computer.

The brain-computer interface is designed to restore communication and computer control by decoding neural activity linked to attempted speech and movement. Although recent advances have achieved high accuracy in research settings, real-world adoption has been limited by two key challenges: independent at-home use and reliable long-term performance.

The new BCI system overcomes both barriers. The study shows that it can now support rich, independent digital and in-person communication in real-world settings.

...read more at health.ucdavis.edu