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An articulatory brain-computer interface approach for restoring expressive communication to people with paralysis

Award Number: F31DC023776
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/29/2029

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An articulatory brain-computer interface approach for restoring expressive communication to people with paralysis - PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The objective of this project is to develop an advanced brain-computer interface (BCI) that restores speech to people with paralysis. The long-term goal of this research is to improve quality of life for people with communication loss due to neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or stroke. Current speech BCIs translate users’ neural activity into text as they attempt to speak. This approach works by mapping neural activity to phonemes, and then applying a series of machine learning models to transform phonemes to words. By design, this approach is restricted in its ability to generalize beyond text output. The alternative approach proposed in this application is to train decoders that decode the user’s articulatory movements instead of directly decoding sentences. This project will test the hypothesis that paralyzed users will be able to use a kinematics-based BCI designed this way to accurately control virtual orofacial components (lips, tongue, etc.), and that the decoded vocal tract configuration will be able to be converted in real-time into expressive speech sounds on behalf of the user. The methods used will build on prior work, utilizing the same neural recording techniques (intracortical microelectrode arrays), brain region (ventral precentral gyrus, i.e., speech motor cortex), and participants (BrainGate2 clinical trial participants who have ALS or stroke). The first aim is to determine whether speech motor cortex supports closed-loop control of individual speech articulators by implementing a lips BCI controllable by participants with paralysis. The second aim is to characterize the neural encoding of speech and basic tongue movements, to determine whether neural decoders trained on simple instructed movement cues will generalize to similar movements made in the context of speech. These aims are not mutually dependent, and the success of either aim will lead to a fundamental insight to the function of the human brain. This research will take place in the Neuroprosthetics Lab at UC Davis, one of four BrainGate2 clinical trial sites across the U.S. This fellowship training plan focuses on key areas of growth required to conduct the proposed research and to prepare for a productive research career in BCI: speech BCI development, phonetics, computational neuroscience, scientific communication, leadership, and career development. A team of 5 qualified mentors (all UC Davis faculty) will provide guidance and expertise throughout this training plan. This work aims to elevate quality of life for people with speech loss by enabling a rich, expressive mode of communication using intracortical BCIs. Additionally, this project will shed light on fundamental neuroscience questions regarding speech production and neuromotor control.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $43,752 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS	1850 RESEARCH PARK DR STE 300	DAVIS	CA	95618	YOLO	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	4/9/2026	NEW	$43,752
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS	1850 RESEARCH PARK DR STE 300	DAVIS	CA	95618	YOLO	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	1	4/9/2026	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $43,752

Grand Total All Awards = $43,752

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An articulatory brain-computer interface approach for restoring expressive communication to people with paralysis

Award Number: F31DC023776

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/29/2029

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