Brain Implant Allows US Woman With Motor Neuron Disease to Communicate in Real Time

A woman in the United States living with motor neuron disease has regained the ability to communicate in real time using a brain implant, according to a report by Anadolu Agency.

According to the report, the participant is able to choose her own words and respond to open-ended questions using the device, rather than relying on preset phrases or limited word banks often used in earlier communication aids.

The technology reportedly converts her intended speech into text and a synthesized voice, allowing her to hold conversations, including with her grandchildren, the report said.

Anadolu Agency did not specify the exact type of implant, the research institution involved, or further technical details about how the system processes brain signals into speech.

Motor neuron disease is a progressive condition that affects the nerves controlling voluntary muscle movement, often leading to a gradual loss of the ability to speak, move and, in some cases, breathe independently, as the disease advances.

Brain-computer interface technology has been an area of ongoing research aimed at restoring communication for people who lose the ability to speak due to neurological conditions such as motor neuron disease, stroke or spinal cord injury.