A mind-reading device has been created
28 September 2025 05:08
Scientists from Stanford University have proved for the first time that it is possible to decode internal speech – the thoughts we “say in our minds”. The paper was published in the journal Cell, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The technology is based on a brain-computer interface that captures neural activity and translates it into text. The study involved four people with severe paralysis caused by ALS or brain stem stroke. They were implanted with microelectrode arrays in the cortical area that controls speech. The system analyzed neuronal activity when participants either tried to pronounce words or just mentally “spoke” them.
It turned out that internal speech activates the same brain regions as spoken speech, but the signals are weaker. Using artificial intelligence, scientists were able to decipher imaginary words and complete sentences with an accuracy of 74%.
The system also recognized spontaneous thoughts.
“If you only need to think about the words instead of trying to pronounce them, it’s potentially faster and more convenient for people with speech impairments,” said Benjamin Meshede-Krasa, one of the authors of the paper.
To protect confidentiality, the developers have implemented a “password” that activates the system only with a special mental phrase. The experiment showed that the imaginary password was recognized with an accuracy of over 98%.
Although the technology is still far from practical application, scientists believe that in the future it will allow people with severe speech impairments to communicate almost as freely as in normal spoken language.
