For Some Patients, the ‘Inner Voice’ May Soon Be Audible

Here is a 165-word summary of the news article: Researchers have developed a new technology that can decode the words people imagine saying, even without speaking them aloud. In a recent study, scientists were able to translate the "inner voice" of participants into actual speech. The system works by monitoring neural activity in the brain's speech centers, which generate electrical signals when a person is speaking or thinking of speaking. By analyzing these signals, the researchers were able to determine the specific words the participants were imagining. This breakthrough could have significant implications for people with conditions that impair their ability to speak, such as locked-in syndrome or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The technology could allow these individuals to communicate by simply thinking the words they want to say, without needing to physically vocalize them. While still in early stages, this development represents an important step towards restoring the ability to "speak" for those who have lost it.