Speech-prosthesis that reads brain signals to let ALS patients type fast
Official title: Single-neuron population dynamics in human speech motor cortex for a speech prosthesis
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11408820 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to develop a brain-controlled voice device for people with ALS to type quickly using signals from the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | August 2, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $142,702 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DC019430-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408820 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with ALS or related motor-neuron disease who have severe speech impairment and could benefit from an AAC device.
✕Less likely to help
People without severe speech impairment or without access to intracortical interfaces may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to turn brain activity into fast, natural speech for people with severe speech and motor impairment. Researchers will study how individual brain neurons coordinate during speech and build a neural interface that can translate those signals into text or spoken output. The effort combines advanced brain-computer interface technology with speech neuroscience to move toward conversational typing speeds. Participants with ALS may contribute neural data and test the evolving speech prosthesis as part of a multi-site collaboration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the speech prosthesis could enable ALS patients to communicate more quickly and naturally.
How similar studies have gone: Prior iBCI work has demonstrated control of a computer cursor and typing using decoded motor signals, with ongoing improvements expected.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henderson, Jaimie M — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Henderson, Jaimie M
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.