Biomedical speech processing research

该设备将用于支持Castillo Guerra博士在生物医学语音处理领域的研究项目。Castillo Guerra博士的研究重点是一组运动神经元紊乱的声学研究，这些紊乱会根据周围或中枢神经系统病变的位置对所产生的语言产生干扰。正在研究的疾病包括肌萎缩性侧索硬化症、多发性硬化症、帕金森氏病、舞蹈病和肌张力障碍等神经系统疾病。该研究项目结合了语音处理、模式识别和数据分析技术，自动导出病理语音中表现出来的声学扰动，并确定与所研究的疾病相对应的独特声学模式。所要求的技术将为数据处理和调查神经系统疾病的重要评估方面提供技术基础设施。该设备将使Castillo Guerra博士能够开发一种新的评估方法，该方法基于对声学数据的客观判断和推导自动提取的模型，该模型描述了由神经损伤引起的言语干扰的感知。满足研究的内存、磁盘和处理要求的安全数据处理服务器是实现本调查的短期和长期目标的关键。长期目标包括开发可靠的模型和解决工具，用于研究和评估所有影响正常语言产生模式的运动神经元障碍。这将有助于准确描述在这类神经紊乱的早期阶段表现出来的言语紊乱，有助于提高评估方法和康复技术的可靠性，并为医学研究创造机会。

This equipment requested will support the research program of Dr. Castillo Guerra in the area of biomedical speech processing. Dr. Castillo Guerra's research focuses on acoustic studies of a group of motor neuron disorders that yield perturbations on the speech produced depending on the location of the lesion in the peripheral or central nervous system. The disorders being investigated include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, chorea, and dystonia among other neurological disorders. The research program combines speech processing, pattern recognition and data analysis techniques to automatically derive the acoustic perturbations manifested in the pathologic speech and determine unique acoustic patterns that correspond to the studied disorders.The requested technology will provide the technological infrastructure for data processing and investigating important assessment aspects of neurological disorders. The equipment will enable Dr. Castillo Guerra to develop a new assessment methodology based on objective judgments of the acoustic data and the derivation of automatically extracted models describing the perception of the speech perturbations caused by the neurological impairments.A secure data processing server that meets the memory, disk and processing  requirements of the research is key to achieving the short- and long- term objective of this investigation. Long term objectives include the development of reliable models and solution tools for research and assessment of all motor neuron disorders affecting normal patterns of speech production. This will contribute to accurately describing the speech perturbations manifested in the early stages of such neurological disorders, contributing to the reliability of assessment methods and rehabilitation techniques, as well as creating opportunities for medical research.