Chinese-Specific Speech Imagery Coding Using High-Density ECoG

Summary

The goal of this study is to investigate whether high-density electrocorticography (ECoG) signals recorded from the surface of the brain can be used to decode neural representations of Mandarin Chinese speech features, including lexical tone, without requiring overt speech movements. The study focuses on the development and evaluation of decoding algorithms based on neural activity recorded during clinically indicated neurosurgical procedures.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can high-density ECoG signals be decoded to reconstruct neural representations of Mandarin Chinese speech features, particularly lexical tone?

Can neural activity recorded during silent auditory speech imagery be decoded to reconstruct tone-specific speech representations without actual articulation?

The study includes two groups of adult patients with neurological conditions who require cortical electrode placement as part of clinically indicated care:

A intraoperative high-density ECoG temporary coverage group, enrolling approximately 50 patients with functional-area glioma or drug-resistant epilepsy who undergo awake neurosurgery with temporary high-density ECoG coverage for clinical functional mapping.

A permanent high-density ECoG implantation group, enrolling approximately 10 patients with severe speech or language impairment caused by neurological conditions such as stroke, brain tumors, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or locked-in syndrome, who receive permanent high-density cortical electrode implantation for long-term monitoring.

Participants will:

Complete preoperative clinical assessments as part of standard medical care, including brain imaging, language function evaluation, and routine neurological assessments

Undergo clinically indicated awake neurosurgical procedures during which high-density ECoG electrodes are placed on the cortical surface for clinical functional localization

Perform language-related tasks, such as listening to speech, imagining speech, and limited spoken responses, while brain electrical activity is recorded for approximately 20-30 minutes during surgery, without altering standard surgical procedures

For participants in the permanent implantation group, participate in long-term follow-up visits approximately every 2 weeks or monthly for up to 12 months after surgery, including evaluation of signal quality and research-related analysis and optimization of decoding algorithms

All surgical procedures involving temporary or permanent electrode placement are performed for clinical indications and have been approved through institutional ethical and scientific review. Participation in this study does not alter standard clinical care for the temporary recording group and does not require additional clinical procedures beyond routine treatment.

This research aims to support the long-term development of silent brain-to-speech communication technologies for individuals with severe speech or motor impairments and to improve understanding of how frontal, parietal, and temporal brain regions represent imagined speech in tonal languages such as Mandarin Chinese.

Conditions

• Aphasia
• Dysarthria
• ALS
• Speech and Language Disorder
• Stroke
• Brain Tumor Adult
• Epilepsies
• locked-in Syndrome

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Intraoperative high-density ECoG recording

Electrode implantation is performed via neurosurgical awake craniotomy. Following intraoperative awakening, direct cortical electrical stimulation is applied to localize language functional areas while the subject performs language tasks. Subsequently, high-density electrocorticography is employed to record neural electrical activity. For the temporary coverage group, this enables precise localization of language functional areas; for the permanent implantation group, this facilitates determination of optimal electrode implantation sites.

PROCEDURE

Permanent high-density ECoG implantation

In the permanent implantation group, subjects demonstrating satisfactory intraoperative electrode signals who voluntarily consent to permanent electrode implantation will undergo permanent electrode placement and long-term follow-up. Postoperative follow-up is conducted biweekly or monthly, encompassing: signal quality assessment, analysis of neural encoding mechanisms during speech imagery, and calibration of brain-computer interface decoding algorithms. The trial duration for each subject is approximately 13 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Feng Yan · Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-03-15

Primary Completion

2028-12-31

Completion

2028-12-31

Countries

• China

Study Locations