The long-range goal of this research program is the development of a system-level model of the human speech-motor system (SMS) that encompasses normal and disordered speech motor control. The goal of the current proposal is to test portions of the Directions into Velocities of Articulators (DIVA) a model of speech production that has both behavioral and neural components. In particular, we will the feedforward subsystem that includes primary mouth motor cortex (MC), ventral premotor cortex (PMv), and the supplementary motor area (SMA). This proposal will adopt a two stage strategy to test the DIVA model. The DIVA model hypothesizes that disruption of different areas will have differential effects on speech production. We will test this hypothesis by recording speech behavior while creating transient 'virtual'lesions in these cortical areas by using image guided robotic transcranial magnetic stimulation (irTMS) (Aim 1). The DIVA also makes specific predictions regarding the connections of these regions, and this will be verified by measuring the inter-regional connectivity of these regions by task independent connectivity mapping using TMS-PET (Aim 2). Data from this project will be used for R01 grants that will (1) explore other neural regions involved in the feedforward subsystem as well as the regions included in the feedback subsystem;and (2) develop models of motor speech disorders (e.g., stuttering, apraxia of speech, hyperkinetic dysarthria, and ataxic dysarthria) using the DIVA model.

Public Health Relevance

The long-range goal of our research program is the development of a system-level neural model of the human speech-motor system that integrates lesion and functional imaging data. Such a model will eventually account for normal and disordered speech motor control. A detailed mapping of the normal speech motor network will allow for predictive models of speech disorders that have a strong potential in driving the clinical enterprise by improving diagnosis and assisting in the rational design of behavioral treatments, identifying the reorganization the speech-motor system has undergone in speech disorders, and assist in understanding the mechanism of action of behavioral therapies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21DC009467-01A1
Application #
7589531
Study Section
Motor Function, Speech and Rehabilitation Study Section (MFSR)
Program Officer
Shekim, Lana O
Project Start
2008-12-01
Project End
2010-11-30
Budget Start
2008-12-01
Budget End
2009-11-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$259,219
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
Department
Radiation-Diagnostic/Oncology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800772162
City
San Antonio
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78229
Narayana, Shalini; Zhang, Wei; Rogers, William et al. (2014) Concurrent TMS to the primary motor cortex augments slow motor learning. Neuroimage 85 Pt 3:971-84
Narayana, Shalini; Laird, Angela R; Tandon, Nitin et al. (2012) Electrophysiological and functional connectivity of the human supplementary motor area. Neuroimage 62:250-65
Poizner, Howard; Lancaster, Jack; Tunik, Eugene et al. (2012) Towards a healthy human model of neural disorders of movement. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 20:853-7