Relations between Speech Intelligibility, Vocal-Tract Behaviour, and Brain Activity for Speech-handicapped Parkinson Patients

构音障碍是PD患者的严重症状。对语言障碍进行分级与评估疾病本身一样重要。然而，特别是对于治疗期间的成功的连续评估，这是非常繁琐和昂贵的。基于记录的语音信号的仪器测定产生相当大的缓解。它可以与通过相同的信号以及通过EEG分析中枢神经系统中相应的误切换网络的信号对发音和发声的非侵入性观察相结合。这种综合分析是新颖的和基本的。详细地说，以下问题将被处理：-如何准确的是一个仪器测量PD患者的语音清晰度和它的变化在疾病和治疗的进展，根据记录的语音信号？- 哪些关于发音问题的诊断信息可以从相同的信号中非侵入性地导出，而不仅仅是可懂度评估？- 通过（简单或精细的）声道声管模型可以观察到发音声道运动的哪些缺陷？- 中枢神经系统内控制网络的哪些变化与声道运动和语言清晰度的变化相关？- EEG的哪些信号分量反映了语言控制脑中心的干扰，它们如何与PD网络以及可能的震颤源相关？其结果将包括新的测量技术，允许治疗医生将新的优化方法应用于他们的医疗或手术治疗。

Dysarthria is a severe symptom for PD-patients. Grading the speech handicap is as important as assessing the disease itself. Especially for a continuous evaluation of the success during a treatment, however, it is very tedious and expensive. An instrumental determination, based on the recorded speech signal, yields a considerable relief. It can be combined with a non-invasive observation of articulation and phonation by means of the same signals as well as that of the corresponding mis-switched networks in the central nervous system via EEG analysis. This combined analysis is novel and fundamental. In detail, the following questions will be dealt with: - How exact is an instrumental measurement of PD-patients speech intelligibility and its variation during the disease s and treatment s progress, based on recorded speech signals? - Which diagnostic information concerning articulation problems can be derived non-invasively from the same signals, beyond mere intelligibility assessment? - Which defects of the articulating voice-tract movements can be observed by means of a (simple or refined) acoustic-tube model of the vocal tract? - Which changes within the controlling network inside the central nervous system correlate with variations of vocal-tract movements and speech intelligibility? - Which signal components of the EEG reflect disturbances in the speech-controlling brain centres and how do they correlate with the PD network and, possibly, tremor sources? The result will consist of novel measurement techniques, allowing treating physicians to apply new optimization approaches for their medical or surgical treatments.