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World first: brain implant lets man speak with expression — and sing

Device translates thought to speech in real time.
By
  1. Miryam Naddaf

    1. Miryam Naddaf is a science writer based in London.

A man with a severe speech disability is able to speak expressively and sing using a brain implant that translates his neural activity into words almost instantly. The device conveys changes of intonation when he asks questions, emphasizes the words of his choice and allows him to hum a string of notes in three pitches.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-01818-1

Updates & Corrections

  • Clarification 13 June 2025: This story has been changed to specify that the brain-computer interface allowed the user to modulate the intonation of his speech.

References

  1. Wairagkar, M. et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09127-3 (2025).

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