The interaction of segmental and prosodic structure in speech production: A comparison of syndromes and an investigation of auditory rhythmical priming effects.

在这个项目的第一个研究阶段，我们能够证明节奏和韵律对失语者在单词和短语重复中的语音准确性的强大影响，在某种意义上说，与抑扬格单词或不规则重音模式的短语相比，患者在有规则的扬格节奏的话语中犯的错误更少。这些结果与早期非线性模型的预测一致，根据该模型，语音运动计划的分段和韵律特性是分层嵌套的。我们的结果需要在当前项目的扩展中回答两个重要的问题。(1)规则语言节奏的优势是否局限于言语产生的运动规划阶段的障碍（即言语失用），或者它是否也适用于语音编码障碍（词汇、词汇后）或言语运动执行障碍（构音障碍）。在几个语音输出组件中存在统一的度量影响在理论上是最具启发性的。另一方面，成分之间的任何差异都可能对语言障碍的鉴别诊断产生影响。(2)语音、语音或运动障碍患者的言语产生是否受益于具有规则内在节奏的言语的听觉启动？这个研究问题将运动与感觉领域联系在一起，并与语言运动规划和协调源于发音手势的节奏性娱乐的理论联系在一起。我们计划进行两项研究。在研究1中，将第一期研究中使用的单词重复范式扩展为命名范式，系统探讨单词重音对词汇（后语义）障碍失语患者图片命名的影响。在研究2中，我们将使用一个新的听觉-运动耦合范式，该范式要求参与者通过保持听觉模型的节奏和流畅性来完成一个模型说话者所说的短语。该方法基于语音同步的自适应和轮流实验。它将使我们能够区分听觉和运动对口语产生的片段和节奏方面的影响。我们计划研究语音障碍、言语失用症和帕金森构音障碍的说话者，从而补充我们的交叉综合征比较。通过使用与同步方法相关的范例，我们还从其他运动领域建立了一个建立良好的、基于节奏的治疗方法的桥梁。

During the first research period of this project we were able to demonstrate a robust effect of rhythm and meter on speech accuracy in word and phrase repetition in apraxic speakers, in the sense that patients made fewer errors on utterances with a regular trochaic rhythm as compared to iambic words or to phrases with irregular stress patterns. These results are in accordance with predictions from an earlier nonlinear model according to which the segmental and the metrical properties of speech motor plans are hierarchically nested. Our results entail two important questions to be answered in an extension of the current project.(1) Is the advantage of regular speech rhythm confined to impairments at the motor planning stage of speech production (i.e., apraxia of speech), or does it also apply to phonological encoding impairments (lexical, post-lexical) or to impairments of speech motor execution (dysarthria). The presence of a uniform metrical influence on speech across several speech output components would be theoretically most revealing. Any disparity between components, on the other hand, might have implications for the differential diagnosis of speech impairments.(2) Do patients with phonological, phonetic, or dysarthric impairment profit, in their speech production, from auditory priming by speech with a regular intrinsic rhythm? This research question interlinks the motor with the sensory domain and hooks up with theories according to which speech motor planning and coordination results from a rhythmical entrainment of articulatory gestures. We are planning for two studies. In study 1, the word repetition paradigm used during the first research period will be expanded by a naming paradigm, in order to systematically investigate the influence of word stress on picture naming in aphasic patients with lexical (post-semantic) impairment. In study 2 we will use a new auditory-motor coupling paradigm which requires participants to complete a phrase spoken by a model speaker by maintaining the rhythm and fluency of the auditory model. This approach is based on an adaptation of speech synchronization and turn taking experiments. It will allow us to distinguish between auditory and motor influences on segmental and rhythmical aspects of spoken language production. We plan to examine speakers with phonological impairment, apraxia of speech, and (Parkinsons) dysarthria, thereby complementing our cross-syndrome comparisons. By using a paradigm related to the synchronization approach we also build a bridge to well established, rhythm based treatment methods from other motor domains.