The Strength of Thought

2008/12/20 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Bioteknologia
• Biologia
• Anatomia/Fisiologia

Now, researchers at the University of Boston have presented an experiment that has left that research small: through a voice synthesizer, they have managed to say vowels thought by a person with muscular disabilities. This is a great advance with respect to the other, not only because this experiment has been carried out with a person instead of animals, but until now this type of research has been based on the union of the brain and movement, the first one that has been made with speech.

Now, researchers at the University of Boston have presented an experiment that has left that research small: through a voice synthesizer, they have managed to say vowels thought by a person with muscular disabilities. This is a great advance with respect to the other, not only because this experiment has been carried out with a person instead of animals, but until now this type of research has been based on the union of the brain and movement, the first one that has been made with speech.

Although the result has now been published, it has been working for a long time. First of all, the researchers had to know if in the brain areas related to speech, people with this type of paralysis have the same activity and healthy people. For this purpose, functional representation using magnetic resonance (RMIf) was used. With this technique, brain activity is reflected in images, which proved to be the same as those of that person and the healthiest. In addition, images of certain vowels were identified.

The next step was the design of electrodes for implantation in language-related areas. The electrodes are not usually easy to apply as they move. Thus, to anchor where they needed, the electrodes were coated with substances that help neurons to reproduce, which allowed the growth of neurons in the area and their correct insertion.

Then, the electrodes were connected to the computer program that interprets the brain signals and, through it, they knew how to think about what vowels the person was thinking with paralysis. Know and listen, since the computer had a voice synthesizer that translated the data obtained in sounds.

To develop this computer program they have needed fifteen years. For the moment, he identifies the signals of the three vowels, but the researchers believe that they will soon be able to identify the rest of vowels and consonants. Over time, they expect the program to have the ability to know full sentences. Without a doubt, it would be a big step forward for people with severe paralysis.

Eye tracking Eye tracking Eye tracking

In fact, although much progress has been made in recent years, current systems that help communicate people with severe paralysis have quite a few limitations. Among the systems currently used, one of the best known is the one based on the look. It is called eye traquing and consists of selecting letters and words with the look on a screen. A camera placed on the screen follows the movement of the eyes, so that the person appears written on the screen itself. If you are connected to a voice synthesizer, you can listen.

Faced with what was presented by researchers at the University of Boston, this system of look is slow, but progress is also being made in it and for many people it is of great help. In addition, it is used in other areas, sometimes with curious objectives. For example, they have used it to know to what extent there is relationship between two people and what type of relationship there is: knowing where and how they look, many things can be deducted.

Published in Gara