Representative image (IANS) NEW DELHI: Artificial intelligence may soon help doctors “read” the brain before disease becomes visible. An Indian team has unveiled MANAS 1, a Brain Language Foundation Model built on 60,000 hours of brainwave recordings from more than 25,000 patients, with the aim of enabling earlier detection of neurological and psychiatric disorders.Developed by Intellihealth (NeuroDx), led by neurologist Dr Puneet Agarwal, former Professor at All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, and his team, the model was launched during an AI summit and released as open source on Hugging Face. The project received computational backing under the Indian AI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.Unlike conventional AI systems, MANAS 1 is trained to interpret EEG signals — the electrical activity generated by the brain. Built with 400 million parameters, it is described by its developers as a foundational platform on which disease-specific AI tools can be developed.Dr Agarwal told TOI that MANAS 1 is designed to “understand the basic language of the brain.” He described it as a foundation model — similar in concept to ChatGPT — that learns from large-scale EEG data to interpret brain signals that traditional tests like MRI cannot fully decode. According to him, the model creates a platform on which AI tools for epilepsy, dementia and other disorders can later be built, while also helping researchers explore aspects of brain function that remain poorly understood.The public health argument is early access. India faces a shortage of neurologists and psychiatrists, particularly outside major cities. Brain disorders are often detected late, increasing disability and long-term costs. The developers say tools built on MANAS 1 could assist doctors at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, community health centres and district hospitals in preliminary screening and timely referral. Any disease-specific AI model derived from the platform would require regulatory approvals before clinical deployment.If validated at scale, such systems could help reduce the gap between symptom onset and diagnosis — a critical factor in conditions such as epilepsy and dementia.A next-generation version, MANAS 2, is expected in the coming weeks.As artificial intelligence advances into neuroscience, MANAS 1 signals an attempt to move from analysing language on screens to interpreting the electrical language of the brain — with implications for research, diagnosis and access to care.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndian Embassy In Mexico Issues Advisory For Nationals After Killing Of Drug Lord ‘El Mencho”Attempt To Externalize Its Internal Failures’: India Condemns Pakistani Strikes In AfghanistanNetanyahu Links Modi’s Israel Visit To ‘Alliance Against Radical Axes’, Calls India ‘Global Power’Tripura Teen Brutally Assaulted By Live-In Partner In Gurugram, Mother Recalls Chilling Phone Call‘Raise Pride Of Both Nations’: PM Modi Lauds Indian-Origin Players In Foreign Teams At T20 WC‘Gandi Aur Nangi Rajneeti’: PM Modi Slams Congress Over ‘Shirtless’ Protest At AI SummitPM Modi Inaugurates India’s Fastest Metro In Meerut, Namo Bharat CorridorJairam Ramesh Questions Modi Govt On US Trade Deal, Tariffs And Russia Oil Claims“World Will See AI Differently”: PM Modi On AI Impact Summit In Mann Ki Baat”With India, It’s Different” Lula Hits Out At Global Powers, Eyes $20B India-Brazil Trade Milestone123PhotostoriesBAFTA 2026: The red carpet fashion disasters we simply can’t ignore5 places in India where it’s still possible to see snow in MarchBaby names inspired by seasons of India7 sacred plants and flowers perfect for indoor spacesThe most powerful mantras for the success in exams; according to your birth dateAlia Bhatt’s BAFTA 2026 debut: From a custom Red Carpet look, to her Hindi speech with ‘Namaskar’, here are all the highlightsBAFTA Awards Red Carpet 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Sadie Sink, best dressed stars of the nightUnder 150-calorie snacks for guilt-free munchingBackless Gucci, Marilyn Monroe vibes: Alia Bhatt steals the BAFTAs red carpetThis Kala Chana Chaat offers 20 g of protein; recipe inside123Hot PicksDelhi-Meerut RRTSMeerut MetroGlobal trade outlookSangramIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingEllyse PerryAlysa Liu familyKyle PittsMens Hockey OlympicsTravis Kelce MansionsSidney Crosby and Kathy Leutner Net WorthDillon GabrielNathan MacKinnonCade CunninghamMontreal Canadiens
NEW DELHI: Artificial intelligence may soon help doctors “read” the brain before disease becomes visible. An Indian team has unveiled MANAS 1, a Brain Language Foundation Model built on 60,000 hours of brainwave recordings from more than 25,000 patients, with the aim of enabling earlier detection of neurological and psychiatric disorders.Developed by Intellihealth (NeuroDx), led by neurologist Dr Puneet Agarwal, former Professor at All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, and his team, the model was launched during an AI summit and released as open source on Hugging Face. The project received computational backing under the Indian AI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.Unlike conventional AI systems, MANAS 1 is trained to interpret EEG signals — the electrical activity generated by the brain. Built with 400 million parameters, it is described by its developers as a foundational platform on which disease-specific AI tools can be developed.Dr Agarwal told TOI that MANAS 1 is designed to “understand the basic language of the brain.” He described it as a foundation model — similar in concept to ChatGPT — that learns from large-scale EEG data to interpret brain signals that traditional tests like MRI cannot fully decode. According to him, the model creates a platform on which AI tools for epilepsy, dementia and other disorders can later be built, while also helping researchers explore aspects of brain function that remain poorly understood.The public health argument is early access. India faces a shortage of neurologists and psychiatrists, particularly outside major cities. Brain disorders are often detected late, increasing disability and long-term costs. The developers say tools built on MANAS 1 could assist doctors at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, community health centres and district hospitals in preliminary screening and timely referral. Any disease-specific AI model derived from the platform would require regulatory approvals before clinical deployment.If validated at scale, such systems could help reduce the gap between symptom onset and diagnosis — a critical factor in conditions such as epilepsy and dementia.A next-generation version, MANAS 2, is expected in the coming weeks.As artificial intelligence advances into neuroscience, MANAS 1 signals an attempt to move from analysing language on screens to interpreting the electrical language of the brain — with implications for research, diagnosis and access to care.
