Nasometric and Phototransductive Measurements of Reaction Times Among Normal Adult Speakers

Abstract

The temporal relationship among laryngeal, velopharyngeal, and labial activity was investigated by studying the reaction times of eight normal adults. Four female and four male subjects sustained production of the nasal consonant /m/ until a computer-driven imperative tone was presented at which time they were required to say /pi/ as quickly as possible. This task was repeated 30 times for each subject. The offset of voicing at the end of the /m/ and the onset of bilabial plosive release were monitored using a commercially available Nasometer. The onset of velopharyngeal (V-P) movement toward closure and the attainment of closure were monitored using a photodetector system. Across 240 responses, the average latencies were: 146 ms for initiation of V-P movement toward closure, 224 ms for voicing offset, 280 ms for onset of V-P closure and 317 ms for onset of plosive release. The significance of these findings is discussed with respect to speech motor control and the clinical evaluation of patients with velopharyngeal impairments.