MRI & CT Studies of the Developing Vocal Tract

描述(由申请人提供)：口腔和咽部结构及其各自的腔--定义了声道(VT)--出生后的生长需要大小、形状和相对比例的变化。虽然出生前和出生后的生长是一个发育的连续体，但目前的理论强烈地将VT结构的出生后功能联系在一起，以指导其生长，特别是在婴儿期和幼儿期。声学理论肯定了发育中的室速的解剖结构与发育过程中观察到的语音频谱之间的关系。然而，尽管现有的解剖学信息仍然不足以详细解释这种关系，但自2000年以来，我们的VT开发实验室已经朝着量化描述咽上语音系统发育过程中性别特有的解剖学变化的使命取得了稳步进展：i)建立了一个独特的成像数据库，由1116项具有性别代表性的一生中的MRI和CT研究组成。Ii)汇编一大组测量数据，以捕捉头部、面部和VT结构在整个寿命期间的同时增长；以及创建复合3D模型，其中维持选定VT结构之间的空间关系，并从该模型获得关系增长的测量结果。三)系统地描述VT结构的个体和关系增长(例如，Vorperian等人。1999,2005)，并综合了关于发展中的VT，特别是元音声学空间发展的声学输出的研究结果(Vorperian&Kent，2007)。这项拟议的项目结合了成像、语音声学分析、声学反射或声学咽喉测量数据，以及VT建模，以研究喉上语音装置在整个生命周期中的发展。这项拟议研究的目标是：(1)扩展成像和测量数据库，以包括非典型发展病例，补充以结构胚胎起源为指导的测量，以及来自3D模型的测量，以捕捉关于VT结构关系生长的额外信息。此外，为了保护主要来自将被成像的个人的语音记录和声学咽喉测量数据。(2)通过统计典型和非典型发育个体的VT结构的性别特异性生长模型和生长类型，评估解剖-声学关系和结构/功能相互作用的前景；并评估它们的相对和关系增长，同时考虑结构的组织类型(骨、软、软骨和腔)、胚胎起源、生长平面和/或功能用途。(3)利用互补成像和声反射数据构建发育性VT模型，并将模型计算的共振峰数值与特定年龄的声学数据进行关联，以推断VT的声学特征与特定解剖结构的发育变化。这些发现将为VT结构从胚胎到老年病的发展提供一幅连贯且亟需的图景。这些信息是处理颅面结构和功能的多个学科的理论构建和临床应用的基础。公共卫生相关性：成像和声学方法被用来提供典型和非典型发育个体口腔和咽部结构发育的详细信息。来自男女典型发育个体的解剖学数据将为口腔和咽部结构以及各自的空洞和声道本身的生长建立规范的参考。这些信息对许多临床学科--特别是那些涉及到进食、吞咽、言语产生和呼吸等行为的颅面异常--是必要的和有价值的。此外，这些信息可用于确定影响解剖学、生理学或声学输出发育变化的干预策略的有效性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The postnatal growth of the oral and pharyngeal structures and their respective cavities - that define the vocal tract (VT) - entails changes in size, shape, and relative proportions. While prenatal and postnatal growth comprise a developmental continuum, current theory strongly associates the postnatal functions of the VT structures to guide its growth, particularly during infancy and early childhood. Acoustic theory affirms a relationship between the anatomy of the developing VT and the spectrum of speech sounds observed during development. However, although the available anatomic information remains inadequate to explain this relationship in detail, our VT Development Lab has made steady progress since 2000 towards its mission to quantitatively characterize sex-specific anatomic changes of the supralaryngeal speech system during development by: i) Establishing a unique imaging database consisting of 1116 MRI and CT studies across the lifespan that is representative of both sexes. ii) Compiling a large set of measurements that capture the concurrent growth of the head, face and VT structures throughout the lifespan; and creating composite 3D models where the spatial relation between select VT structures is maintained and from which measurements on relational growth will be secured. iii) Characterizing systematically the individual and relational growth of VT structures (ex. Vorperian et al. 1999, 2005), and synthesizing findings on the acoustic output of the developing VT, specifically the development of vowel acoustic space (Vorperian & Kent, 2007). This proposed project combines imaging, acoustic analysis of speech, acoustic reflection or acoustic pharyngometry data, and VT modeling in an investigation on the development of the supra-laryngeal speech apparatus throughout the lifespan. The goals of this proposed research are to: (1) Expand the imaging and the measurements databases to include atypically developing cases, supplement measurements that are guided by embryologic origin of structures, and measurements from 3D models that capture additional information on the relational growth of VT structures. Also, to secure speech recordings and acoustic pharyngometry data mostly from individuals who will be imaged. (2) Assess perspectives on anatomic- acoustic relationships and structure/function interaction by statistically characterizing sex specific growth models and growth type of the VT structures in typically and atypically developing individuals; and assess their relative and relational growth while taking into account the structures' tissue type (bony, soft, cartilage and cavity), embryologic origin, plane of growth, and/or functional use. (3) Use complementary imaging and acoustic reflection data to configure developmental VT models and correlate model computed formant values with age specific acoustic data to make inferences regarding VT acoustic characteristics to developmental changes of specific anatomic structures. The findings will provide a coherent and much needed picture on the development of VT structures from embryo to geriatrics. Such information is foundational for both theoretical constructs and clinical application in multiple disciplines that deal with craniofacial structures and functions. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Imaging and acoustic methods are used to provide detailed information on the structural development of the oral and pharyngeal structures in both typically and atypically developing individuals. Anatomic data from typically developing individuals of both sexes will establish normative references for the growth of the oral and pharyngeal structures, along with their respective cavities and the vocal tract itself. This information is essential and valuable to a number of clinical disciplines - particularly those concerned with craniofacial anomalies - that are concerned with behaviors such as feeding, swallowing, speech production, and respiration. In addition, this information can be used to determine the efficacy of intervention strategies that effect developmental changes in anatomy, physiology, or acoustic output.