Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in speech research

Data on vocal tract shape and dimensions acquired using magnetic resonance imaging techniques have been useful in understanding the articulatory and acoustical processes involved in speech production. This video demonstrates the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the study of vocal tract anatomy and application to the investigation of normal and abnormal aspects of the speech production. MRI techniques used to gather basic data to apply in computational models of speech articulation will be illustrated. Recent studies of the vocal tract in normal subjects used MRI to examine changes in vocal tract shape during production of different vowels and illustrated the correspondence between vocal tract shape and the acoustic product (Baer etal., 1990). Subsequent studies have correlated pre- and post-operative assessment of vocal tract dimensions with acoustic data to determine the effects of surgical alteration of specific vocal tract cites on speech production. Other studies have examined the effects of neurological disease on speech and voice production. Images will be used to illustrate nature of these changes on the speech mechanism. Applications of basic MRI techniques as well as specific limitations of this instrumentation will be discussed. [Work supported by NIH Grants Nos. DC-000444, DC-00121 to the Haskins Labs.]