How Brain-Computer Interfaces are Allowing the Speechless to Speak
One of the areas that brain-computer interfaces are changing is the area of neuroprosthetics, specifically allowing patients to speak through implants in their brains. While this technology is still not as fast as less technologically advanced methods like eye tracking, it is advancing at a pace that could one day allow it to surpass these methods, potential even reaching a speed faster than typing or voice to text methods. As Elon Musk explains often, “we [humans] have amazingly advanced systems around us, yet we are still limited with our interactions with them by our ten fingers.” If we as a species were able to build off of current BCI technology, making it less invasive and more efficient, imagine what could be completed if the only limiting factor in data transfer between our brain and computers was how fast we could think something.
––An excerpt from Plugged In
In 1996 the FDA approved Phil Kennedy’s neurotrophic electrode, which intices grey matter to grow into the electrode rather than outing the electrode into the grey matter. The FDA was impressed with the simplicity of his design. As he began testing the electrodes in humans, his hopes were realized as they remained sensitive and responsive years into their life. The longest his electrodes have lasted so far is 10 years; they would’ve lasted longer, but unfortunately, the patient carrying them died from complications of his disease. Despite this tragedy, Kennedy was excited by the longevity of the electrodes. Other neuroscientists, however, were skeptical. “People didn’t recognize how well they worked; they still don’t,” Kennedy told me. For this reason, nobody would fund him. Nevertheless, Kennedy pushed on, forming Neural Signal Inc. to pay for the patent and develop the electrodes further.
With these electrodes, his experience, and an incessant drive, Kennedy embarked on his task to give speech to the speechless. The first patient whom he implanted with the electrodes was a special education teacher and mother of two who had ALS and was very sick. Her name was Marjory and she went by MH. Kennedy implanted her and hooked it up to an amplifier, so she could hear the electrodes listening to her signals. In this manner, she was able to control the sound produced, a huge initial step in controlling the implant enough to speak. Sadly, MH died 76 days later.
Next came Johnny Ray (JR), a drywall contractor and Vietnam vet who loved playing jazz guitar. JR was 43 when he became locked into his body by a stroke. He received an implant in March 1998 and at the time could move his face a little, smile, and shift his eyes. Kennedy implanted two of his electrodes next to the motor cortex portion that controlled his left hand. Kennedy began by having him imagine moving his left hand, which would result in a cursor moving on the screen. This work was extremely exhausting, and JR could only train for 20 minutes a day. Nine months into his training, Kennedy, and JR were working on controlling a cursor with his brain and spelling his name. He would choose a letter by moving the cursor over the letter and then hover there until it selected the letter. One day they were doing this activity, and JR was doing quite well, slowly getting better and faster at spelling out his name, succeeding two of the first four times. Kennedy, satisfied with the work so far, suggested they take a break. When they came back he began to try to spell his name again, but this time there seemed to be problems. JR couldn’t spell his name anymore. He spelled “JOHQQL,” then started a word with a “P” and Kennedy thought he must be too tired.
“Then he kept going, and there was an H, an I, and an L. He had spelled my name, ‘PHIL’!”
Later, Kennedy visited him at his home and asked him what he thought about when he moved the cursor: “He typed out ‘NOTHING,’ which is incredible.” It proved that JR’s brain had adapted and retrained itself; no longer did he have to imagine moving his left hand, but instead he just thought of moving the cursor. Three years later, JR died from a brain aneurysm.
“He has proven so much, though,” Kennedy said when reflecting on his past patient. “He was the world’s first cyborg, his brain adapted and communicated directly with the machine, something that hasn’t happened before.”
Stay tuned to hear more incredible stories of how these interfaces are changing people’s lives and our perception of the human mind. I hope you enjoyed this post — if you want to connect you can reach me here via email admangan2018@gmail.com or connect with me on social: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. If you like what you read and want to learn more about this amazing technology, please buy the paperback or ebook version on amazon! Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H7RJLYC
