Stanford scientists create brain-computer interface for imagined speech

🧠✨ Big news from Stanford! For the first time, scientists have decoded inner speech, the silent voice we all hear in our heads. Using a brain-computer interface (BCI) with tiny electrodes in the motor cortex, they helped patients with paralysis translate their thoughts into sentences. 📌 Key results: 74% accuracy in decoding imagined speech Vocabulary span of 125,000 words Tested on patients with ALS or brainstem stroke Built-in privacy trigger: system only works when users think a chosen password phrase This breakthrough could one day allow people who cannot speak to communicate fluently using only their mind. A life-changing step in neuroscience and technology. #BrainComputerInterface #NeuroTech #StanfordResearch #FutureOfCommunication #MedicalBreakthrough

In an early test, scientists from Stanford University used a brain-computer interface (BCI) device to decipher sentences that were thought, but not spoken aloud. The implant was correct up to 74 per cent of the time. Via Euronews: A brain-computer chip can read people's minds with up to 74% accuracy https://lnkd.in/et4qEiwg

Stanford researchers have achieved a major breakthrough in brain–computer interface technology by creating an implant capable of decoding a person’s inner speech—when individuals imagine words instead of saying them. Tested on participants with severe paralysis, the device correctly interpreted these silently imagined sentences about 74% of the time, offering a promising new method for communication without relying on physical speech or eye movements. To address privacy concerns, the system includes a clever “thought password” feature that only activates decoding when the user mentally triggers it with their chosen code—enabling natural communication while preventing unintentional mind-reading.

The neuroscientist Lucina Uddin investigates how different brain networks interact. “It’s kind of silly to think that we’re ever going to be like, ‘This one brain region or one brain network does one thing. I don’t think that’s how it works.” https://t.co/MGnaWpz8Js

“𝑬𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒅”may feel real, but memory doesn’t sit in one place waiting to be erased. As children, many of us imagined memory transfer — like copying data from a floppy disk to a pen drive. But unlike computers: 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧. Neuroscientist #Karl #Lashley spent 17 years searching for the “#engram” (the exact spot where memories live). He found none. Instead, memory is spread across different networks of the brain. 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 & 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 → Prefrontal Cortex 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 (𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 & 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬) 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 → Hippocampal System 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 → Amygdala 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 (𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 & 𝐇𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬) → Basal Ganglia & Motor Areas 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 → Distributed Neocortical Networks 𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 “𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒑” 𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆. Scientists use three main methods to uncover the brain’s memory secrets: 𝐀𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 Patients with brain injuries (e.g., H.M.) show what happens when specific regions are damaged. 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 Monkey and rodent studies reveal brain-behavior links in controlled experiments. 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 (𝐟𝐌𝐑𝐈, 𝐏𝐄𝐓, 𝐄𝐄𝐆) Track blood flow & brain activity during encoding, storage, and retrieval. There is more to come regarding this in the next post.

“An experimental brain implant can read people's minds, translating their inner thoughts into text. In an early test, scientists from Stanford University used a brain-computer interface (BCI) device to decipher sentences that were thought, but not spoken aloud. The implant was correct up to 74 per cent of the time.” https://lnkd.in/ef_XKQsH

🏥 Stanford’s Inner Speech BCI Shows Patients Want More Than Accuracy Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have demonstrated a brain-computer interface that decodes inner speech, silently imagined words, into text in real time. Reported in Cell Press, the study involved participants with ALS and stroke, who preferred inner speech over attempted speech for being less tiring, faster, and more discreet. The work highlights a new dimension in the BCI race: usability. While the main BCI players have focused on attempted-speech decoding, Stanford’s results suggest that patient comfort may prove just as decisive as accuracy benchmarks. The team also introduced safeguards, such as keyword unlocking, to prevent unintended decoding, an important example of ethical design built directly into BCI technology. #Neurotech #BCI #BrainComputerInterface #Neuroscience #DeepTech #BrainTech #Stanford

Brain manipulation is not science fiction in 2025, and it should terrify you that the Foundation is lobbying policy makers around the world without involving us in the conversation. New Zealand is not exempt. More on that later today. The Foundation's website states: "We are on the edge of a new human experience defined by unprecedented insight into and influence over the human brain. Neurotechnologies—tools that can record, interpret, and even manipulate brain activity—are rapidly entering everyday life, pushing the boundaries of what we can do and who we can become. Neurotechnologies, powered by generative artificial intelligence, are unlocking capabilities once considered science fiction, such as thought-to-text translation, the improvement of short-term memory, and new treatments for brain diseases. The Neurorights Foundation is leading the way to ensure that neurotechnologies are leveraged for social good and safeguarded from misuse or abuse. Our work involves cutting-edge research, shaping global standards, and guiding responsible innovation with neurotechnology companies. We serve as a bridge between scientists, policymakers, industry, and the public, a bridge to the future." Thank you to Sabrina Wallace for raising awareness.

If you've ever wondered, "Where might quantum computers help in Life Sciences and Healthcare?", we've got the report for you! Similar to our previous report for financial services use cases, this in-depth report explores how quantum computing is set to accelerate drug discovery, boost diagnostic precision, and streamline resource management across the health care and life sciences landscape. Discover how quantum innovation is reshaping patient care and driving the next wave of industry transformation. When you're ready to explore the future, download the full report: https://lnkd.in/e2wAC6Cw #QuantumComputing #HealthTech #LifeSciences #Deloitte #Innovation Special thanks to our incredible contributors—your expertise made this possible: Bill Briggs, Amit Chaudhary, Mike Bechtel, Kulleni Gebreyes, Jerry Bruno, Pete Lyons, Deborshi Dutt, Kumar Chebrolu, Vishal Iyengar, Jennifer Sturm, Grant Moss, Cheryl Law Marr, Ph.D., Neal Batra, Daniel Ferrante, Ph.D., Andrew Bolt, Sai B Lella, Omkar Kawalekar, Mathias Cousin, Alan Andress, Aditya Kudumala, Andrew Davis, Prashanth Prasanna, Brian Doty, Lindsay Scollin, Cole Wheeler, Andrew Tucci, Morgann Carlon, Ravi kumar Dhar, Karen Taylor, Dr. Anh Pham, Esther Han, Mekena McGrew, PhD, Colin Soutar, Ben Shapiro

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