UC Davis breakthrough lets ALS patient speak using only his thoughts
Allowing people with disabilities to talk by just thinking about a word, that's what UC Davis researchers hope to accomplish with new cutting-edge technology. It can be a breakthrough for people with ALS and other nonverbal conditions.
One UC Davis Health patient has been diagnosed with ALS, a neurological disease that makes it impossible to speak out loud. Scientists have now directly wired his brain into a computer, allowing him to speak through it using only his thoughts.
"It has been very exciting to see the system work," said Maitreyee Wairagkar, a UC Davis neuroprosthetics lab project scientist.
The technology involves surgically implanting small electrodes. Artificial intelligence can then translate the neural activity into words.
UC Davis researchers say it took the patient, who's not being publicly named, very little time to learn the technology.
"Within 30 minutes, he was able to use this system to speak with a restricted vocabulary," Wairagkar said.
It takes just milliseconds for brain waves to be interpreted by the computer, making it possible to hold a real-time conversation.
"[The patient] has said that the voice that is synthesized with the system sounds like his own voice and that makes him happy," Wairagkar said.
And it's not just words. The technology can even be used to sing.
"These are just very simple melodies that we designed to see whether the system can capture his intention to change the pitch," Wairagkar said.
Previously, ALS patients would use muscle or eye movements to type on a computer and generate a synthesized voice. That's how physicist Stephen Hawking, who also had ALS, was able to slowly speak.
This new technology is faster but has only been used on one patient so far. Now, there's hope that these microchip implants could one day help other people with spinal cord and brain stem injuries.
"There are millions of people around the world who live with speech disabilities," Wairagkar said.
The UC Davis scientific study was just published in the journal "Nature," and researchers are looking for other volunteers to participate in the program.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
27 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Judge blocks the Trump administration's National Science Foundation research funding cuts
BOSTON — A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump 's administration from making drastic cuts to research funding provided by the National Science Foundation. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston struck down on Friday a policy change that could have stripped universities of tens of millions of dollars in research funding. The universities argued the move threatened critical work in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors and other technology fields. Talwani said the change, announced by the NSF in May, was arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law. An email Saturday to the NSF was not immediately returned. At issue are 'indirect' costs, expenses such as building maintenance and computer systems that aren't linked directly to a specific project. Currently, the NSF determines each grant recipient's indirect costs individually and is supposed to cover actual expenses. The Trump administration has dismissed indirect expenses as 'overhead' and capped them for future awards by the NSF to universities at 15 % of the funding for direct research costs. The University of California, one of the plaintiffs, estimated the change would cost it just under $100 million a year. Judges have blocked similar caps that the Trump administration placed on grants by the Energy Department and the National Institutes of Health.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Announces Debt Financing Totalling US$3 Billion
UnitedHealth Group recently completed a substantial debt financing deal, raising $3 billion through the issuance of various Notes. This move comes amid a period of legal settlements, such as the $69 million ERISA case, and operational restructuring, including exploring bids for its Latin American operations. Despite these significant developments, the company's stock price remained relatively flat over the last month, reflecting broader market trends which also showed minimal movement. The dividend increase and shareholder discussions on executive compensation may have subtly influenced sentiment, but overall, these events seemed to align with the market's flat performance. UnitedHealth Group has 1 possible red flag we think you should know about. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 22 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. UnitedHealth Group's recent $3 billion debt financing and restructuring efforts, such as evaluating bids for its Latin American operations, are significant developments. While the near-term stock price remained relatively stable amid these changes, over the past five years, the company's total shareholder return, including dividends, was 13.61%. This reflects a steady growth trajectory, although in the last year, UnitedHealth underperformed the US Healthcare industry. The current share price sees a slight discount from the analyst consensus price target of $547.65, which is 28% higher than the present value. Despite recent legal settlements and compensation discussions, the company's aggressive push towards digital tools and Medicare adjustments might bolster future earnings and revenue. UnitedHealth's projected earnings per share and revenue growth is positioned slightly behind broader market expectations over the next few years, yet planned improvements in operational efficiencies could bridge this gap over time. Learn about UnitedHealth Group's future growth trajectory here. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:UNH. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Teradyne (NasdaqGS:TER) Revamps By-Laws to Modernize Shareholder Procedures and Director Elections
On June 20, 2025, Teradyne implemented significant amendments to its By-Laws, adjusting nomination and proposal notice windows and clarifying voting standards. Over the past month, Teradyne's stock price moved 9% amid these changes, potentially reflecting investor confidence in enhanced governance practices. Although the broader market has remained flat, the recent gains by the company could suggest that these internal updates resonated positively with market participants, aligning with an overall upward market trend over the past year. This internal shift may have added weight to Teradyne's modest divergence from the market's flat performance. Buy, Hold or Sell Teradyne? View our complete analysis and fair value estimate and you decide. These 17 companies survived and thrived after COVID and have the right ingredients to survive Trump's tariffs. Discover why before your portfolio feels the trade war pinch. The recent amendments to Teradyne's by-laws could potentially reinforce investor confidence, aligning with broader market interests in strong governance. Over a longer five-year span, Teradyne's total shareholder return of 7.61% provides context for its performance, despite the stock's short-term fluctuations. This return contrasts with the company's one-year underperformance, as it lagged behind both the overall US market and the semiconductor industry, indicating room for improvement. The governance changes could influence Teradyne's revenue and earnings positively, particularly in the context of its strategic focus on AI, robotics, and automation. These areas are anticipated to boost revenue, though current geopolitical and tariff concerns could pose risks. Analysts forecast an annual revenue growth of 12.3% and a rise in profit margins to 24.7%, indicating a potential upside, even if challenges persist. The recent share price movement following the changes, while reflective of immediate investor sentiment, shows a notable gap against the consensus price target of US$99.83, which represents a 25.8% potential increase from the current US$74.07. This suggests that investors might be weighing the company's long-term strategic initiatives against current uncertainties. Our valuation report unveils the possibility Teradyne's shares may be trading at a discount. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqGS:TER. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
