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的生长-定义了声道(VT)-遵循一个产前到出生后的发育连续体。目前的理论认为，室上性心动过速的出生后发育是由它所服务的功能所指导的，特别是在从出生到儿童早期，在这一时期，生长需要大小、形状和相对比例的变化。声学理论认为室上性心动过速的解剖结构和语音的特性在发育过程中存在着一种进化关系。现有的解剖学信息不足以解释这种关系的全部性质。自2000年以来，我们的VT开发实验室一直在稳步实现其使命，即使用双管齐下的解剖学-声学方法来定量描述发育过程中咽上语言系统性别特有的解剖变化，这需要：A.解剖学：1)建立一个独特的成像数据库，由1679项贯穿整个生命周期的成像研究组成，具有典型的男女发育个体的代表性。2)汇编一大组基于二维里程碑的测量，捕捉VT结构在整个生命周期中的同时增长；并使用精选的3D模型来提出新的分析方法来量化多维增长(Chung等人。2013，提交)3)系统地描述了VT结构的个体和关系成长(Vorperian等人)。1999年、2005年、2007年、2009年和2011年)。B.声学：1)综合元音声学空间发展的研究结果，即发育期VT的声学输出(Vorperian&Kent，2007)。2)综合有关DS患者言语障碍的研究结果，以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，其中包括250名参与者的录音，其中包括90名4岁至成年的唐氏综合症(DS)患者；以及4)汇编发展声学数据，包括前四个共振峰及其带宽的测量。本研究结合影像、声学和视神经传导模型，在功能驱动的颅面发育理论框架内，研究喉上语言器官在整个生命周期中的发育。研究目标是：1)利用成像数据库来量化VT结构的个体、相对和关系生长的3D生长，同时考虑结构的组织类型(骨， 软组织、软骨和腔)、胚胎起源、生长平面和/或功能用途。此外，扩展我们的声学数据库，同时解决声学分析中的基本问题。2)使用典型和非典型发育个体评估由声学驱动和/或由结构/功能相互作用引导的假说；以及3)使用年龄和性别特定的VT模型来检验关于解剖-声学关系的假说。项目结果将为VT结构在整个寿命周期内的发展提供一个连贯和迫切需要的图景。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。

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.