Paradromics, a brain-computer interface (BCI) developer, has received FDA approval to conduct human trials for its high-bandwidth device designed to restore speech in individuals with severe motor impairment. The Austin-based company aims to provide a voice to those who have lost the ability to speak due to motor disabilities. This trial will focus on evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Paradromics device in enabling synthesized speech and text communication.
BCIs like the one developed by Paradromics have shown promise in translating brain signals associated with movement intention into actionable commands. The upcoming study, set to commence early next year with two participants, intends to collect data over six months before potentially expanding to include more volunteers. The company’s CEO, Matt Angle, envisions a future where individuals using BCIs can communicate at speeds comparable to natural speech, offering a significant improvement in their quality of life.
Unlike reading thoughts, BCIs for speech recovery interpret brain signals from the motor cortex activated when individuals attempt to articulate speech. Through training the BCI to recognize these patterns, users can see their spoken words displayed on a screen and even hear them in their own voice if a voice sample is available.
Source: WIRED