The role of the cerebellum in speech

项目总结 这项建议研究小脑在言语中的作用，建立在理论模型和 已被证明对理解小脑伸展和行走功能有用的实验方法。 神经成像和损伤研究提供了令人信服的证据，证明小脑是 言语产生网络，尽管它在言语控制中的确切作用尚不清楚。此外， 小脑受损(变性或局灶性)可导致共济失调，这是一种运动性语言障碍。 部分地以发音受损和严重的暂时性缺陷为特征。这笔赠款旨在弥补这一差距。 小脑功能的理论模型和与共济失调相关的言语症状之间的关系。 语音马达控制有两种机制--反馈和前馈控制。在反馈控制中， 说话者使用感觉反馈(例如，他们自己的声音)来控制他们的讲话。在前馈控制中， 说话者使用从他们过去的演讲中获得的知识，而不是在线反馈来控制 他们的演讲。这一建议需要一个系统的计划来阐明小脑在前馈和 语音的反馈控制。一个中心假说是，小脑在前馈中尤其关键。 语音控制，但很少参与反馈控制。为了探索这一假设，我们将获得 来自三种创新方法的证据汇聚：1)言语-运动的神经心理学研究 小脑萎缩患者和匹配的健康人对实时改变的听觉反馈的反应 对照组，2)接受theta爆发式经颅磁刺激的健康对照组的平行研究 创建小脑的“虚拟损伤”，以及3)CA患者的结构和功能研究 小脑病变部位、构音障碍症状与前馈反馈控制的关系 才能。 演讲为检验当前关于小脑功能的理论提供了一个重要机会 概括到一个新的效应器(声道)和感觉(听觉)领域。它的传播目的 施加了在其他电机领域中看不到的严格的光谱-时间约束。此外，有特色的 语音中反馈和前馈控制的平衡使我们能够检查这两种控制类型的变化 在小脑损伤之后。关键的是，这是第一个研究理论上-- CA患者的动机控制缺陷和与共济失调构音障碍相关的言语症状 它们的神经相互关联。

PROJECT SUMMARY This proposal investigates the role of the cerebellum in speech, building upon theoretical models and experimental methods that have proven useful in understanding cerebellar function in reaching and walking. Neuroimaging and lesion studies have provided compelling evidence that the cerebellum is an integral part of the speech production network, though its precise role in the control of speech remains unclear. Furthermore, damage to the cerebellum (either degenerative or focal) can lead to ataxic dysarthria, a motor speech disorder characterized, in part, by impaired articulation and severe temporal deficits. This grant seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical models of cerebellar function and the speech symptoms associated with ataxic dysarthria. Two mechanisms underlie speech motor control – feedback and feedforward control. In feedback control, speakers use sensory feedback (e.g., of their own voice) to control their speech. In feedforward control, speakers use knowledge gained from their past speech productions, rather than on-line feedback, to control their speech. This proposal entails a systematic plan to elucidate the role of the cerebellum in feedforward and feedback control of speech. A central hypothesis is that the cerebellum is especially critical in the feedforward control of speech, but has little involvement in feedback control. To explore this hypothesis, we will obtain converging evidence from three innovative methodologies: 1) Neuropsychological studies of speech-motor responses to real-time altered auditory feedback in patients with cerebellar atrophy (CA) and matched healthy controls, 2) Parallel studies in healthy controls undergoing theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation to create “virtual lesions” of the cerebellum, and 3) Structural and functional studies in CA patients to examine the relationship between cerebellar lesion location, dysarthria symptoms, and feedforward and feedback control ability. Speech provides an important opportunity to examine how well current theories of cerebellar function generalize to a novel effector (vocal tract) and sensory (auditory) domain. Its’ purpose for communication imposes exacting spectro-temporal constraints not seen in other motor domains. Furthermore, the distinctive balance of feedback and feedforward control in speech allows us to examine changes in both control types subsequent to cerebellar damage. Critically, this is the first work examining the link between theoretically- motivated control deficits in CA patients and the speech symptoms associated with ataxic dysarthria, as well as their neural correlates.