An interventional study of Chronic speech BCI in Locked in Syndrome and ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), sponsored by University Hospital, Grenoble. Not yet recruiting at 4 sites in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-13.
Sponsored by University Hospital, Grenoble · Not applicable, Interventional, and Device feasibility
Eighteen million people worldwide are affected by speech disorders. Locked-in syndrome (LIS) represents the most extreme form of communication disability resulting from motor impairment. In France, the Association du Locked-In Syndrome (ALIS) reports approximately 500 individuals with LIS, most of whom live at home. The quality of life of people with LIS depends strongly on their ability to communicate, and speech synthesis is the mode of communication restoration most desired by individuals with LIS. Several surveys have shown that improving communication abilities in these individuals leads to a significant improvement in their quality of life as well as that of their caregivers.
Natural speech allows the production of an average of 150 words per minute. Non-invasive communication methods, whether based on residual motor function (eye-blink code) or on brain-machine or brain-computer interfaces (Brain-Computer Interface, BCI) using scalp electroencephalographic (EEG) signals, involve a high cognitive load and have low efficiency (spelling only a few letters per minute). Invasive BCIs for speech rehabilitation aim to overcome the limitations of non-invasive devices (cognitive overload and slow speech rate). The intention to act (the act of speaking) is predicted by an algorithm based on the direct decoding of neuronal activity from the sensorimotor cortex (the area where articulatory muscles are represented).
To date, studies testing speech rehabilitation BCIs in humans remain rare. A subdural electrocorticographic (ECoG) invasive BCI enabled speech decoding (words and sentences from a limited repertoire) for chronic use (2 years). Real-time control of an on-screen cursor allowing spelling of up to 90 letters per minute (equivalent to text messaging) has also been achieved using an intracortical invasive BCI (Utah Array). Very recently, up to 60 words per minute were produced using an intracortical invasive BCI (Utah Array) implanted in the ventral premotor cortex, although with a connector potentially contaminated by acoustic audio feedback. Furthermore, these devices still rely on transcutaneous connectors, which may be sources of infection and prevent routine daily-life use.
In summary, there is currently no fully implantable, wireless invasive "speech BCI" with real-time speech synthesis suitable for long-term home use. The present study will use an intracranial extradural invasive BCI combined with a speech synthesizer, with the aim of developing a communication tool suitable for everyday use. More specifically, the SpeechBCI protocol will propose two complementary BCI approaches in the same subject: a speech BCI (primary objective, BCI_PAROLE device) and a cursor BCI (secondary objective). Both BCIs will use the WIMAGINE intracranial epidural system, enabling ECoG signal acquisition with a very limited risk of infection and brain injury and providing signals that are more stable over time compared with intracortical or subdural ECoG devices that retain transcutaneous connectors. These systems will allow long-term and ecological use, as the WIMAGINE implant is wireless and offers excellent long-term signal stability. The WIMAGINE implant has already been successfully tested for controlling an exoskeleton in a tetraplegic subject (operational for over 6 years) and very recently for controlling walking in real-life conditions via a spinal cord stimulator in a paraplegic individual.
The BCI_PAROLE device will integrate a speech synthesizer providing real-time auditory feedback to the speaker. The BCI-CURSEUR device will allow the subject to control an on-screen cursor to access various communication functionalities (web access, emails, chats, etc.). This will provide a complementary communication solution to real-time speech production.
The hypothesis of this stydy is that the intention to speak (attempted speech) will be decoded by the BCI_PAROLE device in individuals with LIS because, as with limb paralysis, paralysis of articulatory and phonatory muscles does not prevent the corresponding cortical map from producing specific signals. Similarly, the BCI-CURSEUR device will decode the intention to move a cursor and perform actions on a computer screen.
Neuronal electrical signals will be recorded bilaterally from the ventral motor cortex (representation of lips, cheeks, tongue, palate, and larynx-the vocal tract) and from the dorsal part of the motor cortex (larynx and hand, the latter for controlling a two-degree-of-freedom cursor), using a total of 128 electrodes (64 on each cerebral hemisphere). The implant will be optimally positioned over speech motor areas using preoperative functional imaging in order to optimize speech decoding by the BCI_PAROLE device.
20 studies on the registry are indexed under Locked-In Syndrome; 12 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 3 is below the median of 7 across 17 interventional studies indexed under Locked-In Syndrome.
Browse Locked-In Syndrome studies →University Hospital, Grenoble is the lead sponsor of 837 studies on the registry; 207 are open to participants now.
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a. Male or female between 18 and 65 years old b. French speaking person c. Person in locked in syndrome with a severe speech disorder following either: i. A subcortical stroke ii. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. d. Person with stable clinical state (esp. regarding respiratory state) e. Person able to read on a screen (sufficient eye movement control) f. Negative plasma pregnancy test for women of * g. Highly effective or at least acceptable** for women of childbearing potential.
h. Persistence of localizing signals of language function proven by functional MRI.
i. Person able to perform a simple BCI task with MEG j. Person with a neuropsychological profile evaluated by psychiatrist as compatible with sustain BCI training k. to participate in the obtained using their usual means and code of communication (residual vocalizations, eye-blinking code, pictograms, eye tracking, alphabet chart, etc.), in the presence of their trusted person or curator who is accustomed to communicating with them using this means.
l. Person affiliated to the French social security system or beneficiary of such a system
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients with any of the following criteria cannot be included in this investigation:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Chronic speech BCI
Device: Chronic speech BCI
Chronic speech BCI
safety of the implant
Serious adverse events associated with chronic implantation with an extradural ECoG implant, especially infection, chronic pain and neurological complication.
Time frame: 2 years after surgery
Faisability of the SpeechBCI
Successful real-time synthesis of at least 20 different intelligible speech items (vowels, words or short sentences) above chance level from brain activity after 12 months training post-implantation.
Time frame: 1year after surgery to 2 years after surgery
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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