My guest is Eddie Chang, MD, a neurosurgeon and professor of neurological surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the co-director of the Center for Neural Engineering & Prostheses. We discuss the brain mechanisms underlying speech, language learning and comprehension, communicating human emotion with words and hand gestures, bilingualism and language disorders such as stuttering. Dr. Chang also explains his work developing and applying state-of-the-art technology to decode speech and using that information and artificial intelligence (AI) to successfully restore communication to patients who have suffered paralyzing injuries or locked-in syndrome. We also discuss his work treating patients with epilepsy. Finally, we consider the future: how modern neuroscience is overturning textbook medical books, the impact of digital technology such as smartphones on language and the future of natural and computer-assisted human communication. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Levels: https://www.levelshealth.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Huberman Lab Premium https://hubermanlab.com/premium Social & Website Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Dr. Eddie Chang Support research in the Chang Laboratory: https://changlab.ucsf.edu/support-our-work Dr. Chang’s lab: https://changlab.ucsf.edu Academic profile & publications: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/edward.chang UCSF clinical profile: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/providers/dr-edward-chang Articles Neuroprosthesis for Decoding Speech in a Paralyzed Person with Anarthria: https://bit.ly/3sjv5Cx Articles in the News Tapping Into the Brain to Help a Paralyzed Man Speak: https://nyti.ms/3f0AM5c How Brain-Computer Interfaces Could Restore Speech and Help Fight Depression: https://on.wsj.com/3f1iBMH Decoded Brain Signals Could Give Voiceless People A Way To Talk: https://n.pr/3gujhdP Huberman Lab is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.