ASA 127th Meeting M.I.T. 1994 June 6-10

5aBV4. The role of tactile and kinesthetic feedback in speech production.

Katherine S. Harris

Dept. of Speech and Hear. Sci., Graduate School, City Univ. of New York, 33 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10036

Haskins Labs., New Haven, CT 06511

Since sensory-motor integration is a central topic in studies of limb movement, one might expect studies of the role of kinesthesis and taction to have a central role in one's understanding of the motor organization of speech production. However, perhaps because of the lack of a fully adequate animal model for speech, or because of the inacessibility of the articulators to experimental manipulation, the literature is quite limited. This paper will review existing experimental studies, as they fall under four headings: (1) the effect of reduction of tactile and kinesthethetic feedback from the articulators; (2) the effect of experimental static alteration of the relationship among the articulators, such that feedback from them is altered during articulation; (3) the effect of transient mechanical perturbation of articulation; (4) comparison of the role of taction and kinesthesis in the speech of normals and individuals with severe and profound hearing impairment, for whom auditory feedback cannot have its normal role in speech acquisition. [Work supported by NIDCD.]