Long term objectives: This work seeks to provide locked-in subjects with a direct means of producing speech. This will allow rapid communication between the individual and caregivers as well as control of computers with speech recognition software and control of the subject's environment. This newfound ability to communicate will provide an order of magnitude improvement in the subject's well being. Short term aims of this proposal: In the present time frame, we expect to record neural signals from a locked-in subject's speech area, and use these signals to produce a few phonemes. First, we will identify the subject's speech area using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. We will then implant the subject with FDA approved Neurotrophic Electrodes with a view to providing a basic switch for computer control and thus enhancing communication using standard software. If the subject wishes, we will then train him or her to drive a speech generator to produce individual phonemes. With training, we expect the subject to control combinations of phonemes or words. Exactly how we produce these phonemes is proprietary information. In subsequent work, we expect to extend the number of neural signals available to the subject so that up to 56 phonemes will be available for control. This should provide a full range of phonemic possibilities for word Production in English speakers patients. There 30,000 ALS patients in the USA and at least 10 times that number worldwide. There are an estimated 50,000-brainstem stroke patients in the USA and well as many other conditions that leave people in the locked-in state.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase I (R43)
Project #
3R43DC007050-01S1
Application #
7093258
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Miller, Roger
Project Start
2005-07-07
Project End
2006-06-30
Budget Start
2005-07-07
Budget End
2006-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$124,713
Indirect Cost
Name
Neural Signals, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
129130964
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30340
Kennedy, Philip (2011) Changes in emotional state modulate neuronal firing rates of human speech motor cortex: a case study in long-term recording. Neurocase 17:381-93
Brumberg, Jonathan S; Nieto-Castanon, Alfonso; Kennedy, Philip R et al. (2010) Brain-Computer Interfaces for Speech Communication. Speech Commun 52:367-379