Cognitive and motor factors in vocal imitation

模仿他人动作的能力在一生的运动学习中起着至关重要的作用。在许多情况下，模仿可以依赖于对专家行为的视觉观察，比如当一个孩子学习使用勺子的时候。当学习发出不熟悉的语言的声音或学习唱一首歌时，用声音模仿会带来不同的问题，因为人们看不到涉及的许多动作。事实上，许多人发现模仿声音很困难。然而，由于人们对这种能力背后的机制知之甚少，教师几乎没有资源来帮助这些人。该研究项目的重点是对音高的声乐模仿，这是音乐和演讲制作的核心特征。指导这些实验的假设是，要实现的目标的心理图像的形成调解并刺激了听觉网络和运动网络之间的神经联系，从而使实际生产得以准确。相比之下，不太熟练的演讲者或歌手不会形成很强的听觉-运动联系。三项研究将考察参与者模仿与歌曲或演讲相关的音调模式。口语基音样本将基于英语和普通话，其中基音主要用于表达强调，而基音与词义相关联。这项研究的参与者包括歌手和非歌手，以及会说普通话和不会说普通话的人。计划中的研究将1)评估有助于模仿准确性的基本认知过程(心理意象、工作记忆和知觉)；2)使用肌电图法研究听觉心理意象是否与声带下肌肉运动有关；3)探索特定学习经验对个体模仿能力的作用。这些研究的结果将被用来改进学习说声调语言和唱歌的教学。更有效的教学技术可以提高那些学习说话和唱歌的人的能力和经验。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The ability to imitate the actions of others plays a critical role in motor learning throughout life. In many cases, imitation can rely on visual observations of an expert's actions, as when a child learns to use a spoon. Imitation with the voice, used when learning to produce the sounds of an unfamiliar language or when learning to sing a song, poses a different problem because one cannot see many of the movements that are involved. Indeed, many people find vocal imitation difficult. However, because the mechanisms underlying this ability are poorly understood, instructors have few resources with which to help such individuals. The research program focuses on vocal imitation of pitch, a feature that is central to both music and speech production. The hypothesis guiding these experiments is that formation of a mental image of the to-be-achieved goal mediates and stimulates neural associations between auditory and motor networks that allow the actual production to be accurate. By contrast, a less skilled speaker or singer will not have formed as strong auditory-motor associations.Three studies will examine participants imitating pitch patterns associated with song or speech. Spoken pitch samples will be based on English, where pitch is mostly used to convey emphasis, and Mandarin, where pitch is associated with word meanings. Participants in this research will include singers and non-singers, as well as individuals who speak Mandarin and those who do not. Planned studies will 1) assess basic cognitive processes (mental imagery, working memory, and perception) that contribute to imitation accuracy; 2) use electromyography to address whether auditory mental images are associated with sub-vocal muscle movements; and 3) explore the role that specific learning experience has on individuals' capacity to imitate. Results from these studies will be used to improve instruction for learning to speak a tone language and for singing. More effective instructional techniques could enhance the capacity and experience of those learning to speak and sing.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.