Understanding how the brain decodes meanings in speech after a stroke
Official title: Decoding mental concept identities using electrocorticography
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11072058 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new technology that could help people with aphasia, which makes it hard to speak after a stroke, by using brain signals to improve communication.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | May 5, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $195,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DC021013-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11072058 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced a stroke and are suffering from severe aphasia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have aphasia or have only mild language deficits may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a brain-computer interface (BCI) that can help individuals with aphasia, a common condition following a stroke that affects speech. The project aims to decode brain activity related to semantic concepts using advanced machine learning techniques. Initially, the researchers will gather data from patients without language deficits during awake brain surgeries, using high-density electrocorticography (ECoG) to record brain activity. The goal is to create a model that can later be applied to individuals with severe aphasia, using non-invasive methods to assist in their communication.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new treatment option for patients with severe aphasia, potentially improving their ability to communicate.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using brain-computer interfaces is gaining traction, this specific application for decoding semantic concepts in aphasia is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gross, William L. — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Gross, William L.
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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.