Neural and Mechanical Response Time for Speech Production

The reaction time of 10 neurologically normal young adults was determined for a speech production task and the response was production of a CVC word following the offset of an auditory stimulus tone.

Abstract

The reaction time of 10 neurologically normal young adults was determined for a speech production task. The response was production of a CVC word following the offset of an auditory stimulus tone. Electromyography (EMG) was used to mark the onset of orbicularis oris activity in the response, and the interval between stimulus and EMG onset was designated as neural time. Mechanical response time was measured as the interval between EMG onset and the rise in intraoral air pressure marking the completion of the movement in the response. Group neural times and mechanical response times were approximately 140 and 60 msec, respectively, yielding a 200-msec reaction time. The usefulness of the reaction time paradigm is discussed in relation to studies of sensorimotor control in normal and dysarthric speech.