An experimental device for multi-directional somatosensory perturbation and its evaluation in a pilot psychophysical experiment.

Rintaro Ogane,Takayuki Ito,Lynda Selila

doi:10.1121/10.0001942

Abstract

Somatosensory stimulation associated with facial skin deformation has been developed and efficiently applied in the study of speech production and speech perception. However, the technique is limited to a simplified unidirectional pattern of stimulation, and cannot adapt to realistic stimulation patterns related to multidimensional orofacial gestures. To overcome this issue, a new multi-actuator system is developed enabling one to synchronously deform the facial skin in multiple directions. The first prototype involves stimulation in two directions and its efficiency is evaluated using a temporal order judgement test involving vertical and horizontal facial skin stretches at the sides of the mouth.

Highlights

The somatosensory system is known to be an important component of speech motor control [e.g., Ghosh et al (2010), Guenther and Vladusich (2012), and Perkell (2012)]
Somatosensory stimulation associated with facial skin deformation has been developed and efficiently applied in the study of speech production and speech perception
The current study proposed a framework for developing a new multi-directional somatosensory perturbation system associated with facial skin deformation

Summary

Introduction

The somatosensory system is known to be an important component of speech motor control [e.g., Ghosh et al (2010), Guenther and Vladusich (2012), and Perkell (2012)]. Dynamic perturbations enable one to study on-line control, as exemplified in the production of bilabial consonants, where immediate compensatory responses of the upper lip have been obtained with dynamic perturbations applied to the lower lip (Abbs and Gracco, 1983) or to the jaw (Folkins and Abbs, 1975; Kelso et al, 1984) In this framework, we have developed a dynamic somatosensory perturbation paradigm associated with facial skin deformation over the years (Ito et al, 2009; Ito and Ostry, 2010, 2012). Considering that the orofacial skin can be deformed in a a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed, ORCID: 0000-0002-4050-6749. b) at: Haskins Laboratories, 300 George Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA, ORCID: 0000-0002-3265-360X

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion