A cursor on a computer screen can be controlled using thoughts about a range of vowel sounds, research has found. Brain signals have been translated into motion or even pictures before, but the current research showcases a nascent technique called electrocorticography.

The approach uses sensors placed directly on the surface of the brain. The authors of  “The Journal of Neuroengineering” paper say the technique will lead to better “brain–computer interfaces” for the disabled

A great many studies and demonstrations have in recent years made use of the electroencephalograph, or EEG, typically worn as a “cap” studded with electrodes that pick up the electric fields produced by firing neurons. The technique has been shown to guide electric wheelchairs or even toys, based only on the wearer's intention.

The previous methods picks up signals outside the skull, which acts to absorb and muddle the signals. Electrocorticography, by contrast, is so named because it taps directly into the brain's cortex – the outermost layer of the brain. In a surgical procedure, a plastic pad containing a number of electrodes is implanted under the skull.

It is believed that electrocorticography can change the information technology.