Using Functional Neuroinfrared Spectroscopy for Assistive Communication

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Functional neuroinfrared spectroscopy (F-NERS) is a brain imaging technology that could be a potential assistive device for individuals who have lost the ability to communicate due to brain damage. Unlike an MRI scanner, F-NERS is a more practical option as it uses infrared light to measure blood flow in the brain. By shining different wavelengths of infrared light through a person's skull, F-NERS can measure the blood oxygenation level, which is similar to the fMRI signal. Although it is not currently a consumer device, F-NERS has the potential to be used at home in the future.

For the first time, researchers have found a way to non-invasively translate a person’s thoughts into text. Using fMRI scans and an AI-based decoder trained on a precursor to ChatGPT, the system can reconstruct brain activity to interpret the gist of a story someone is listening to, watching or even just imagining telling. Ian Sample speaks to one of the team behind the breakthrough, the neuroscientist Dr Alex Huth, to find out how it works, where they hope to use it, and whether our mental privacy could soon be at risk. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod