In a groundbreaking development, scientists at the University of California, San Francisco have successfully enabled a stroke survivor to communicate in both Spanish and English using a bilingual brain implant. The patient, known as Pancho, became severely paralyzed after suffering a stroke in the early 2000s, leaving him unable to articulate words despite being a native Spanish speaker who learned English as an adult.
Under the guidance of Dr. Edward Chang, Pancho received a neural implant in 2019, allowing researchers to track his brain activity. After years of research and development, the team was able to train the implant to decode words based on the brain activity produced when Pancho attempted to articulate them, displaying the words and sentences on a screen.
The use of an artificial neural network enabled the implant to process data in a manner similar to the human brain, ultimately allowing Pancho to communicate in both languages. This achievement marks a significant advancement in the field of speech-restoration neuroprostheses.
While the study involved only one patient and further research is needed, experts believe that this technology has the potential to revolutionize communication for bilingual individuals with paralysis. The researchers hope that this breakthrough will pave the way for more natural and seamless communication for individuals like Pancho in the future.