Latest news with #MaastrichtUniversity
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
For some patients, the 'inner voice' may soon be audible
For decades, neuro-engineers have dreamed of helping people who have been cut off from the world of language. A disease like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, weakens the muscles in the airway. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A stroke can kill neurons that normally relay commands for speaking. Perhaps, by implanting electrodes, scientists could record the brain's electric activity and translate that into spoken words. Now a team of researchers has made an important advance toward that goal. Previously they succeeded in decoding the signals produced when people tried to speak. In the new study, published Thursday in the journal Cell, their computer often made correct guesses when the subjects simply imagined saying words. Christian Herff, a neuroscientist at Maastricht University in the Netherlands who was not involved in the research, said the result went beyond the merely technological and shed light on the mystery of language. "It's a fantastic advance," Herff said. The new study is the latest result in a long-running clinical trial, called BrainGate2, that has already seen some remarkable successes. One participant, Casey Harrell, now uses his brain-machine interface to hold conversations. In 2023, after ALS had made his voice unintelligible, Harrell agreed to have electrodes implanted in his brain. A computer recorded the electrical activity from the implants as Harrell attempted to say different words. Over time, with the help of AI, the computer predicted 6,000 words, with 97.5% accuracy. But successes like this raised a troubling question: Could a computer accidentally record more than patients actually wanted to say?Could it eavesdrop on their inner voice? "We wanted to investigate if there was a risk of the system decoding words that weren't meant to be said aloud," said Erin Kunz, a neuroscientist at Stanford University and an author of the study. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She and her colleagues also wondered if patients might actually prefer using inner speech. Kunz and her colleagues decided to investigate the mystery for themselves. The scientists gave participants seven different words, including "kite" and "day," then compared the brain signals when participants attempted to say the words and when they only imagined saying them. As it turned out, imagining a word produced a pattern of activity similar to that of trying to say it, but the signal was weaker. The computer did a good job of predicting which of the seven words the participants were thinking. For Harrell, it didn't do much better than a random guess would have, but for another participant it picked the right word more than 70% of the time. The researchers put the computer through more training, this time specifically on inner speech. Its performance improved significantly, including on Harrell. Now when the participants imagined saying entire sentences, such as "I don't know how long you've been here," the computer could accurately decode most of the words. Herff, who has done his own studies, was surprised that the experiment succeeded. Before, he would have said that inner speech is fundamentally different from the motor cortex signals that produce actual speech. "But in this study, they show that, for some people, it isn't that different," he said. Kunz emphasized that the computer's current performance involving inner speech would not be good enough to let people hold conversations. "The results are an initial proof of concept more than anything," she said. But she is optimistic that decoding inner speech could become the new standard for brain-computer interfaces. In recent trials, she and her colleagues have improved the computer's accuracy. "We haven't hit the ceiling yet," she said. NYT
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
For some patients, the ‘inner voice' may soon be audible
Christian Herff, a neuroscientist at Maastricht University in the Netherlands who was not involved in the research, said the result went beyond the merely technological and shed light on the mystery of language. 'It's a fantastic advance,' Herff said. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The new study is the latest result in a long-running clinical trial, called BrainGate2, that has already seen some remarkable successes. One participant, Casey Harrell, now uses his brain-machine interface to hold conversations with his family and friends. Advertisement In 2023, after ALS had made his voice unintelligible, Harrell agreed to have electrodes implanted in his brain. Surgeons placed four arrays of tiny needles on the left side, in a patch of tissue called the motor cortex. The region becomes active when the brain creates commands for muscles to produce speech. A computer recorded the electrical activity from the implants as Harrell attempted to say different words. Over time, with the help of artificial intelligence, the computer accurately predicted almost 6,000 words, with an accuracy of 97.5 percent. It could then synthesize those words using Harrell's voice, based on recordings made before he developed ALS. Advertisement But successes like this one raised a troubling question: Could a computer accidentally record more than patients wanted to say? Could it eavesdrop on their inner voice? 'We wanted to investigate if there was a risk of the system decoding words that weren't meant to be said aloud,' said Erin Kunz, a neuroscientist at Stanford University and an author of the new study. She and her colleagues also wondered if patients might actually prefer using inner speech. They noticed that Harrell and other participants became fatigued when they tried to speak; could simply imagining a sentence be easier for them and allow the system to work faster? 'If we could decode that, then that could bypass the physical effort,' Kunz said. 'It would be less tiring, so they could use the system for longer.' But it wasn't clear if the researchers could decode inner speech. Scientists don't even agree on what 'inner speech' is. Some researchers have indeed argued that language is essential for thought. But others, pointing to recent studies, maintain that much of our thinking does not involve language at all and that people who hear an inner voice are just perceiving a kind of sporadic commentary in their heads. 'Many people have no idea what you're talking about when you say you have an inner voice,' said Evelina Fedorenko, a cognitive neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 'They're like, 'You know, maybe you should go see a doctor if you're hearing words in your head.'' Fedorenko said she has an inner voice, while her husband does not. Advertisement Kunz and her colleagues decided to investigate the mystery for themselves. The scientists gave participants seven different words, including 'kite' and 'day,' then compared the brain signals when participants attempted to say the words and when they only imagined saying them. As it turned out, imagining a word produced a pattern of activity similar to that of trying to say it, but the signal was weaker. The computer did a pretty good job of predicting which of the seven words the participants were thinking. For Harrell, it didn't do much better than a random guess would have, but for another participant, it picked the right word more than 70 percent of the time. The researchers put the computer through more training, this time specifically on inner speech. Its performance improved significantly, including on Harrell. Now, when the participants imagined saying entire sentences, such as 'I don't know how long you've been here,' the computer could accurately decode most or all of the words. Herff, who has done studies on inner speech, was surprised that the experiment succeeded. Before, he would have said that inner speech is fundamentally different from the motor cortex signals that produce actual speech. 'But in this study, they show that, for some people, it really isn't that different,' he said. Kunz emphasized that the computer's current performance involving inner speech would not be good enough to let people hold conversations. 'The results are an initial proof of concept more than anything,' she said. But she is optimistic that decoding inner speech could become the new standard for brain-computer interfaces. In more recent trials, the results of which have yet to be published, she and her colleagues have improved the computer's accuracy and speed. 'We haven't hit the ceiling yet,' she said. Advertisement As for mental privacy, Kunz and her colleagues found some reason for concern: On occasion, the researchers were able to detect words that the participants weren't imagining out loud. Kunz and her colleagues explored ways to prevent the computer from eavesdropping on private thoughts. They came up with two possible solutions. One would be to only decode attempted speech, while blocking inner speech. The new study suggests this strategy could work. Even though the two kinds of thought are similar, they are different enough that a computer can learn to tell them apart. In one trial, the participants mixed sentences in their minds of both attempted and imagined speech. The computer was able to ignore the imagined speech. For people who would prefer to communicate with inner speech, Kunz and her colleagues came up with a second strategy: an inner password to turn the decoding on and off. The password would have to be a long, unusual phrase, they decided, so they chose 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,' the name of a 1964 novel by Ian Fleming as well as a 1968 movie starring Dick van Dyke. One of the participants, a 68-year-old woman with ALS, imagined saying 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' along with an assortment of other words. The computer eventually learned to recognize the password with 98.75 percent accuracy — and decoded her inner speech only after detecting the password. 'This study represents a step in the right direction, ethically speaking,' said Cohen Marcus Lionel Brown, a bioethicist at the University of Wollongong in Australia. 'If implemented faithfully, it would give patients even greater power to decide what information they share and when.' Advertisement This article originally appeared in
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A Study Has Revealed The Biggest Risk Factors For Getting Early Dementia, And Knowledge Is Power
A recent study by the University of Exeter and Maastricht University published in JAMA Neurology has identified some of the factors that can lead to early cases of dementia ― some of which may surprise you. The data analyzed the behaviors of over 350,000 participants younger than 65 across the United Kingdom to evaluate young-onset dementia, which occurs before age 65. The researchers found there are 15 common issues that can contribute to the early development of the condition. A few have to do with genetics and other elements outside our control, but many others are modifiable. The study is meaningful to experts because it 'looks at young-onset dementia risk factors in a way that has only been done in late-onset dementias previously,' according to Dr. Kevin Bickart, an assistant professor in neurology at the University of California Los Angeles Health's David Geffen School of Medicine. The study features 'a very large sample that was prospectively followed from healthy baseline to a dementia diagnosis with lots of data collection.' Here's what to know: The biggest risk factors for young-onset dementia: Related: "This Has Taken Me Years And Years And YEARS To Figure Out": This Woman's Clever Way To Tell If Someone Is Your Real Friend Is Being Called The Most Accurate Thing Ever Related: 25 Eye-Opening Confessions From A Trauma Therapist That Changed The Way I Think About Mental Health The large-scale study looked at 39 possible risk factors and determined that 15 of them made the biggest difference when it came to developing dementia before the age of 65. Those include: Social isolation Lower formal education Lower socioeconomic status Carrying two copies of the APOE gene (a marker that influences Alzheimer's risk) Vitamin D deficiency Hearing impairment Alcohol use disorder No alcohol use (abstinence) Depression High C-reactive protein levels Lower handgrip strength (physical frailty) Orthostatic hypotension (a form of low blood pressure) Stroke Diabetes Heart disease Although some recognized risks are out of many people's control ― like being a carrier of the APOE gene or your socioeconomic status ― others can be managed through lifestyle changes. What you can do to lower your risk of early-onset dementia. Overall, the study results are consistent with what medical experts have been advising patients for years. Dr. Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, an assistant professor of psychiatry and of neurology at the Yale School of Medicine, recommended three 'lifestyle measures' that folks may want to consider when trying to lower their risk of young-onset dementia ― starting with physical exercise. 'An active daily exercise practice can have far-reaching benefits, which include enhanced neurocognitive function,' Fesharaki-Zadeh said, adding that physical activity can boost neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons and synapses), vasculogenesis (the creation of new blood vessels) while also providing inherent mood benefits. Next, focus on eating nourishing foods. Fesharaki-Zadeh championed a Mediterranean-based diet, mentioning its well-documented benefits. 'Such dietary practice, which includes food groups such as green leafy vegetables, olive oil, salmon and blueberries, is rich in vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, as well as antioxidants ― all neuroprotective factors,' he explained. Fesharaki-Zadeh recommended cognitive, mood and social stimulation to keep your mind sharp. For cognitive stimulation, this could look like learning a new language or attending a seminar, listening to music or dancing. Basically, anything that engages your mind will help it stay healthy. Mood stimulation, on the other hand, relates to stress reduction practices, 'such as mindfulness and yoga,' Fesharaki-Zadeh said. As for social stimulation, it's pretty simple: Try to connect with other humans face-to-face and actually talk to them as much as possible. 'In the era of pandemic and now post-pandemic, quality social connections should increasingly be encouraged and practiced,' Fesharaki-Zadeh said. While these habits don't cover the whole list of dementia risk factors, they are a pretty solid article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Goodful: Therapists Are Revealing The Moments That Made Them Break Their "No Judgment" Rule, And I'm Honestly Speechless Also in Goodful: 19 "Garbage" Modern Trends People Refuse To Partake In Despite Their Popularity Also in Goodful: Medical Professionals Are Sharing "Mundane" Things That Actually Make So Many People Sick
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A Study Has Revealed The Biggest Risk Factors For Getting Early Dementia, And Knowledge Is Power
A recent study by the University of Exeter and Maastricht University published in JAMA Neurology has identified some of the factors that can lead to early cases of dementia ― some of which may surprise you. The data analyzed the behaviors of over 350,000 participants younger than 65 across the United Kingdom to evaluate young-onset dementia, which occurs before age 65. The researchers found there are 15 common issues that can contribute to the early development of the condition. A few have to do with genetics and other elements outside our control, but many others are modifiable. The study is meaningful to experts because it 'looks at young-onset dementia risk factors in a way that has only been done in late-onset dementias previously,' according to Dr. Kevin Bickart, an assistant professor in neurology at the University of California Los Angeles Health's David Geffen School of Medicine. The study features 'a very large sample that was prospectively followed from healthy baseline to a dementia diagnosis with lots of data collection.' Here's what to know: The biggest risk factors for young-onset dementia: Related: "This Has Taken Me Years And Years And YEARS To Figure Out": This Woman's Clever Way To Tell If Someone Is Your Real Friend Is Being Called The Most Accurate Thing Ever Related: 25 Eye-Opening Confessions From A Trauma Therapist That Changed The Way I Think About Mental Health The large-scale study looked at 39 possible risk factors and determined that 15 of them made the biggest difference when it came to developing dementia before the age of 65. Those include: Social isolation Lower formal education Lower socioeconomic status Carrying two copies of the APOE gene (a marker that influences Alzheimer's risk) Vitamin D deficiency Hearing impairment Alcohol use disorder No alcohol use (abstinence) Depression High C-reactive protein levels Lower handgrip strength (physical frailty) Orthostatic hypotension (a form of low blood pressure) Stroke Diabetes Heart disease Although some recognized risks are out of many people's control ― like being a carrier of the APOE gene or your socioeconomic status ― others can be managed through lifestyle changes. What you can do to lower your risk of early-onset dementia. Overall, the study results are consistent with what medical experts have been advising patients for years. Dr. Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, an assistant professor of psychiatry and of neurology at the Yale School of Medicine, recommended three 'lifestyle measures' that folks may want to consider when trying to lower their risk of young-onset dementia ― starting with physical exercise. 'An active daily exercise practice can have far-reaching benefits, which include enhanced neurocognitive function,' Fesharaki-Zadeh said, adding that physical activity can boost neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons and synapses), vasculogenesis (the creation of new blood vessels) while also providing inherent mood benefits. Next, focus on eating nourishing foods. Fesharaki-Zadeh championed a Mediterranean-based diet, mentioning its well-documented benefits. 'Such dietary practice, which includes food groups such as green leafy vegetables, olive oil, salmon and blueberries, is rich in vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, as well as antioxidants ― all neuroprotective factors,' he explained. Fesharaki-Zadeh recommended cognitive, mood and social stimulation to keep your mind sharp. For cognitive stimulation, this could look like learning a new language or attending a seminar, listening to music or dancing. Basically, anything that engages your mind will help it stay healthy. Mood stimulation, on the other hand, relates to stress reduction practices, 'such as mindfulness and yoga,' Fesharaki-Zadeh said. As for social stimulation, it's pretty simple: Try to connect with other humans face-to-face and actually talk to them as much as possible. 'In the era of pandemic and now post-pandemic, quality social connections should increasingly be encouraged and practiced,' Fesharaki-Zadeh said. While these habits don't cover the whole list of dementia risk factors, they are a pretty solid article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Goodful: Therapists Are Revealing The Moments That Made Them Break Their "No Judgment" Rule, And I'm Honestly Speechless Also in Goodful: 19 "Garbage" Modern Trends People Refuse To Partake In Despite Their Popularity Also in Goodful: Medical Professionals Are Sharing "Mundane" Things That Actually Make So Many People Sick
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Brain Implant Lets Man with ALS Speak and Sing with His ‘Real Voice'
A man with a severe speech disability is able to speak expressively and sing using a brain implant that translates his neural activity into words almost instantly. The device conveys changes of tone when he asks questions, emphasizes the words of his choice and allows him to hum a string of notes in three pitches. The system — known as a brain–computer interface (BCI) — used artificial intelligence (AI) to decode the participant's electrical brain activity as he attempted to speak. The device is the first to reproduce not only a person's intended words but also features of natural speech such as tone, pitch and emphasis, which help to express meaning and emotion. In a study, a synthetic voice that mimicked the participant's own spoke his words within 10 milliseconds of the neural activity that signalled his intention to speak. The system, described today in Nature, marks a significant improvement over earlier BCI models, which streamed speech within three seconds or produced it only after users finished miming an entire sentence. [Sign up for Today in Science, a free daily newsletter] 'This is the holy grail in speech BCIs,' says Christian Herff, a computational neuroscientist at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, who was not involved in the study. 'This is now real, spontaneous, continuous speech.' The study participant, a 45-year-old man, lost his ability to speak clearly after developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neuron disease, which damages the nerves that control muscle movements, including those needed for speech. Although he could still make sounds and mouth words, his speech was slow and unclear. Five years after his symptoms began, the participant underwent surgery to insert 256 silicon electrodes, each 1.5-mm long, in a brain region that controls movement. Study co-author Maitreyee Wairagkar, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Davis, and her colleagues trained deep-learning algorithms to capture the signals in his brain every 10 milliseconds. Their system decodes, in real time, the sounds the man attempts to produce rather than his intended words or the constituent phonemes — the subunits of speech that form spoken words. 'We don't always use words to communicate what we want. We have interjections. We have other expressive vocalizations that are not in the vocabulary,' explains Wairagkar. 'In order to do that, we have adopted this approach, which is completely unrestricted.' The team also personalized the synthetic voice to sound like the man's own, by training AI algorithms on recordings of interviews he had done before the onset of his disease. The team asked the participant to attempt to make interjections such as 'aah', 'ooh' and 'hmm' and say made-up words. The BCI successfully produced these sounds, showing that it could generate speech without needing a fixed vocabulary. Using the device, the participant spelt out words, responded to open-ended questions and said whatever he wanted, using some words that were not part of the decoder's training data. He told the researchers that listening to the synthetic voice produce his speech made him 'feel happy' and that it felt like his 'real voice'. In other experiments, the BCI identified whether the participant was attempting to say a sentence as a question or as a statement. The system could also determine when he stressed different words in the same sentence and adjust the tone of his synthetic voice accordingly. 'We are bringing in all these different elements of human speech which are really important,' says Wairagkar. Previous BCIs could produce only flat, monotone speech. 'This is a bit of a paradigm shift in the sense that it can really lead to a real-life tool,' says Silvia Marchesotti, a neuroengineer at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. The system's features 'would be crucial for adoption for daily use for the patients in the future.' This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on June 11, 2025.
