2025-08-17T19:10:07Z

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Can you imagine losing your voice for nearly two decades? For Ann Johnson, this was her harsh reality after a devastating brainstem stroke at just 30 years old. In 2005, she was an active high school teacher in Saskatchewan, Canada, filled with dreams, laughter, and hopes for the future. Yet in an instant, everything changed. Fast forward to 2022, and thanks to a groundbreaking clinical trial, she heard her voice again for the first time in 18 long years.

Ann Johnson's life took a tragic turn on a sunny day while playing volleyball with friends. A brainstem stroke left her unable to move or speak, plunging her into the depths of a condition known as locked-in syndrome, where one remains conscious and aware but is unable to move or communicate verbally. It’s a heartbreaking fate that affects a small population but leaves a massive impact on quality of life.

For nearly two decades, Ann communicated using an eye-tracking system to spell out words on a screen—a painstaking process, only allowing her to type about 14 words per minute compared to a normal conversation's 160 words. However, everything changed in 2022 when she became the third participant in a revolutionary brain-computer interface trial at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco.

Researchers, led by Gopala Anumanchipalli and Edward Chang, delved deep into understanding the brain's speech processes. They created a neuroprosthesis capable of decoding brain signals associated with speech production, effectively allowing Ann to bypass her physical limitations and express her thoughts aloud again. This technology functions similarly to Siri, translating brain activity into audible speech.

During the trial, Ann was even able to engage with an avatar that replicated her wedding speech, harnessing a recording of her voice to provide an emotional and embodied communication experience. Imagine the sheer joy of hearing your thoughts voiced for the first time in nearly two decades! Ann’s first words were an invitation to her husband: “What do you think of my artificial voice?”

Although the technology is still in its infancy, the results are promising. Initial attempts to talk with the brain-computer interface had an eight-second delay, but advancements have drastically reduced this to about a one-second lag, enhancing the fluidity of communication. Researchers anticipate that with further development, photorealistic avatars could become a reality, creating a digital twin that truly represents the individual.

In February 2024, Ann had her implant removed for unrelated reasons but stays in touch with the researchers, sharing her experiences and aspirations for future advancements. Ann dreams of becoming a counselor in a rehabilitation facility, using her story to inspire others that disabilities don’t have to define their future. “I want patients there to see me and know their lives are not over now,” she said, a beacon of hope for many.

This story serves as a remarkable reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the incredible potential of technology to transform lives.