MRI & CT studies of the developing vocal tract

描述（由申请人提供）：口腔和咽结构及其各自的腔体的生长-定义声道(VT) -遵循产前至产后发育连续体。目前的理论认为，出生后的室室发育是由其功能指导的，特别是从出生到幼儿时期，在这一时期，室室的发育需要大小、形状和相对比例的变化。声学理论认为，在发育过程中，VT解剖结构与语音特性之间存在一种不断发展的关系。现有的解剖学资料不足以解释这种关系的全部性质。自2000年以来，我们的VT发展实验室在使用双管齐下的解剖学-声学方法定量表征发展过程中喉上语音系统的性别特异性解剖变化方面取得了稳步进展，这需要：a .解剖学：1)建立一个独特的成像数据库，包括1679个跨越生命周期的成像研究，这是典型发展的两性个体的代表。2)编制一套基于二维地标的测量数据，以捕捉在整个生命周期内VT结构的同步生长；并利用选择的3D模型推进新的分析方法来量化多维增长（Chung et al. 2013，提交）。3)系统地表征VT结构的个体和相关增长（Vorperian et al. 1999,2005,2007,2009 & 2011）。B.声学：1)综合元音声学空间发展的发现，即发展中的VT的声学输出（Vorperian & Kent, 2007）。2)综合DS中言语障碍的研究结果，帮助指导未来的研究工作（Kent & Vorperian, 2013）。3)开始建立一个声学数据库，包括250名参与者的录音，其中包括90名4至成年的唐氏综合症患者；4)编制发育声学数据，包括前四个共振峰及其带宽的测量。本计划结合影像、声学和VT建模，在功能驱动颅面生长的理论建构中，研究喉上言语器官在整个生命周期中的发展。研究目标是：1)利用成像数据库，在考虑结构的组织类型（骨、骨、骨）的情况下，量化VT结构的个体生长、相对生长和关系生长的三维生长。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The growth of the oral and pharyngeal structures and their respective cavities - that define the vocal tract (VT) - follow a prenatal to postnatal developmental continuum. Current theory asserts that postnatal growth of the VT is guided by the functions it serves, especially for the period from birth to early childhood where growth entails changes in size, shape, and relative proportions. Acoustic theory posits an evolving relationship between the VT anatomy and the properties of speech sounds during development. The available anatomic information is inadequate to explain the full nature of this relationship. Since 2000, our VT Development Lab has made steady progress towards its mission to quantitatively characterize sex-specific anatomic changes of the supralaryngeal speech system during development using a two-pronged anatomic-acoustic approach that entails: A. Anatomy: 1) Establishing a unique imaging database, consisting of 1679 imaging studies across the lifespan, that is representative of typically developing individuals of both sexes. 2) Compiling a large set of two dimensional landmark based measurements that capture the concurrent growth of the VT structures throughout the lifespan; and advancing novel analysis methods using select 3D models to quantify multidimensional growth (Chung et al. 2013, submitted) 3) Characterizing systematically the individual and relational growth of VT structures (Vorperian et al. 1999, 2005, 2007, 2009 & 2011). B. Acoustic: 1) Synthesizing findings on the development of vowel acoustic space i.e. the acoustic output of the developing VT (Vorperian & Kent, 2007). 2) Synthesizing findings on speech impairment in DS to help guide future research efforts (Kent & Vorperian, 2013). 3) Beginning to establish an acoustics database consisting of recordings from 250 participants including 90 individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) between the ages four to adulthood; and 4) Compiling developmental acoustics data including measures of the first four formants and their bandwidths. This proposed project combines imaging, acoustics, and VT modeling to study the development of the supra-laryngeal speech apparatus throughout the lifespan within the theoretical construct on function driven craniofacial growth. Research goals are to: 1) Capitalize on the imaging database to quantify the 3D growth of individual, relative and relational growth of VT structures while taking into account the structures' tissue type (bony, soft, cartilage and cavity), embryologic origin, plane of growth, and/or functional use. Also, extend our acoustics database while addressing fundamental issues in acoustic analysis. 2) Assess hypotheses that are acoustically driven and/or guided by structure/function interplay using typically and atypically developing individuals; and 3) Use age and sex-specific VT models to test hypotheses on anatomic-acoustic relationships. Project findings will provide a coherent and much needed picture on the development of VT structures throughout the lifespan. Such information is foundational for both theoretical constructs and clinical application in multiple disciplines that deal with craniofacial structures and functions.