Mapping the temporal neural dynamics of speech motor processes during fluent and disfluent speech

说话是我们大多数人做的事情，没有考虑到复杂和高度协调的大脑和发音过程，这些过程涉及到将思想转化为口语。当我们发现自己说话不那么流利、不犹豫时，我们可能会意识到其中的一些过程。有些人，例如那些患有神经系统疾病或口吃的人，在流利说话方面经常遇到严重和持续的困难，这不仅对他们的健康和福祉，而且对他们的个人发展造成毁灭性的影响。我们的研究目的是为了更好地理解在流利和不流利的言语中，参与发音运动的计划、准备和执行的神经过程的性质和时间。流利的语言需要大量神经过程和肌肉以毫秒级的速度协调和精确定时。虽然研究已经使人们对语言产生背后的大脑解剖学有了深入的了解，但对所涉及的神经过程的时间知之甚少，对导致语言流畅性中断的原因就更少了。初步数据表明，这种不流畅可能是由于这些非常快速的过程的顺序和时间的延迟和中断造成的，特别是在面对复杂和紧张的口语情况时。我们的研究旨在使用脑磁图（MEG）来研究成人说话者的这些神经过程，MEG是一种非侵入性的脑成像技术，非常适合于语音研究，因为它是无噪声的，并且允许使用更复杂和自然的语音。它还具有出色的空间分辨率，可以更精确地定位大脑过程，特别是当与解剖MRI扫描相结合时。将从大量成年演讲者的样本中收集功能和解剖脑数据。他们将参与几个实验任务，要么促进流利的言语产生，要么引发不流利的言语。计划中的实验将研究言语准备过程的作用和时间，如动作计划、发音前排练和言语动作计划的更新，以及错误监测如何影响这些过程。该项目还将调查生理性别（男性vs女性）和年龄（年轻人vs老年人）的影响。我们将MEG和MRI相结合的创新方法将为更好地理解和绘制控制语音运动控制的解剖通路和功能激活提供机会。作为这个项目的一部分生成的功能和解剖数据将使我们能够更新现有的神经语音产生模型。这些见解最终将有助于进一步发展先进技术，如脑机接口，以及从长远来看，为言语障碍患者设计更有效的评估和干预策略。

Speaking is something most of us do without any thought being given to the intricate and highly coordinated brain and articulatory processes involved in converting thoughts into spoken utterances. We may become  aware of some of these processes when we find ourselves less able to produce speech fluently and without hesitation. Some individuals, such as those who experience neurological disorders or who stutter, often experience significant and persistent difficulties with speaking fluently, often with devastating effects not only on their health and well-being, but also for their personal development. The aim of our research is to better understand the nature and timing of neural processes involved in the planning, preparation and execution of articulatory movements during fluent and disfluent speech. Fluent speech requires the coordination and precise timing of a large number of neural processes and muscles at millisecond speed. While research has resulted in a solid understanding of the brain anatomy underlying speech production, less is known about the timing of the neural processes involved, and even less about what causes breakdowns in speech fluency. Preliminary data suggest that such disfluencies may result from delays and breakdowns in the sequencing and timing of these very fast processes, especially when faced with complex and stressful speaking situations. Our research is aimed at investigating these neural processes in adult speakers using magnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive brain imaging technique that is ideally suited for speech research because it is noise-free and allows for the use more complex and natural speech utterances. It also has excellent spatial resolution allowing for the localization of brain processes with greater precision, especially when combined with anatomical MRI scans. Functional and anatomical brain data will be collected from a large sample of adult speakers. Who will engage in several experimental tasks that either promote fluent speech production or trigger disfluent speech. The planned experiments will investigate the role and timing of preparatory speech processes, such as motor planning, pre-articulatory rehearsal and updating of speech motor plans, and how error monitoring affects these processes. The project also will investigate the effects of biological sex (male vs. female) and age (young vs. older). Our innovative approach of combining MEG and MRI will provide an opportunity to better understand and map the anatomical pathways and functional activations that control speech motor control. The functional and anatomical data generated as part of this project will allow us to update existing neural speech production models. The insights ultimately will contribute to further the development of advanced technologies, such as brain-computer interfaces, as well as in the longer term the design of more effective assessment and intervention strategies for individuals with speech disorders.