What memory representation is acquired during nonword speech production learning? The influence of stimulus features and training modality on nonword encoding

The purpose of this research was to investigate memory representations related to speech processing. Psycholinguistic and speech motor control theorists have hypothesized a variety of fundamental memory representations, such as syllables or phonemes, which may be learned during speech acquisition tasks. Yet, it remains unclear which fundamental representations are encoded and retrieved during learning and generalization tasks. Two experiments were conducted using a motor learning paradigm to investigate if representations for syllables and phonemes were acquired during a nonword repetition task. Additionally, different training modalities were implemented across studies to examine if training modality influenced memory encoding for nonword stimuli. Results suggest multiple representations may be acquired during training regardless of training modality; however, the underlying memory representations learned during training may be less abstract than current models hypothesize

A Patient-Specific in silico Model of Inflammation and Healing Tested in Acute Vocal Fold Injury

The development of personalized medicine is a primary objective of the medical community and increasingly also of funding and registration agencies. Modeling is generally perceived as a key enabling tool to target this goal. Agent-Based Models (ABMs) have previously been used to simulate inflammation at various scales up to the whole-organism level. We extended this approach to the case of a novel, patient-specific ABM that we generated for vocal fold inflammation, with the ultimate goal of identifying individually optimized treatments. ABM simulations reproduced trajectories of inflammatory mediators in laryngeal secretions of individuals subjected to experimental phonotrauma up to 4 hrs post-injury, and predicted the levels of inflammatory mediators 24 hrs post-injury. Subject-specific simulations also predicted different outcomes from behavioral treatment regimens to which subjects had not been exposed. We propose that this translational application of computational modeling could be used to design patient-specific therapies for the larynx, and will serve as a paradigm for future extension to other clinical domains

Behavioral Treatment of Voice Disorders in Teachers

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the behavioral treatment of voice disorders in teachers. The focus is on phonogenic disorders, that is voice disorders thought to be caused by voice use. METHODS: Review of the literature and commentary. RESULTS: The review exposes distinct holes in the literature on the treatment of voice problems in teachers. However, emerging trends in treatment are noted. For example, most studies identified for review implemented a multiple-therapy approach in a group setting, in contrast to only a few studies that assessed a single-therapy approach with individual patients. Although the review reveals that the evidence around behavioral treatment of voice disorders in teachers is mixed, a growing body of data provides some indicators on how effectively rehabilitation of teachers with phonogenic voice problems might be approached. Specifically, voice amplification demonstrates promise as a beneficial type of indirect therapy and vocal function exercises as well as resonant voice therapy show possible benefits as direct therapies. Finally, only a few studies identified even remotely begin to meet guidelines of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement, a finding that emphasizes the need to increase the number of investigations that adhere to strict research standards. CONCLUSIONS: Although data on the treatment of voice problems in teachers are still limited in the literature, emerging trends are noted. The accumulation of sufficient studies will ultimately provide useful evidence about this societally important issue

Time-of-day effects on voice range profile performance in young, vocally untrained adult females

Time-of-day effects on voice range profile performance were investigated in 20 vocally healthy untrained women between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Each subject produced two complete voice range profiles: one in the morning and one in the evening, about 36 hours apart. The order of morning and evening trials was counterbalanced across subjects. Dependent variables were (1) average minimum and average maximum intensity, (2) Voice range profile area and (3) center of gravity (median semitone pitch and median intensity). In this study, the results failed to reveal any clear evidence of time-of-day effects on voice range profile performance, for any of the dependent variables. However, a reliable interaction of time-of-day and trial order was obtained for average minimum intensity. Investigation of other subject populations, in particular trained vocalists or those with laryngeal lesions, is required for any generalization of the results

Vocal Fatigue- Role of Aerobic Conditioning in Metabolic Cost and Recovery from Reading

Vocal fatigue is among the most debilitating conditions affecting individuals with voice disorders, with little known about its actual metabolic mechanisms. The current study aims to address this issue by investigating the hypothesis that neuromuscular inefficiency, cardiovascular recovery deficits, or both, may play a role in vocal fatigue

Metabolic Mechanisms of Vocal Fatigue

Objective This study aimed to identify potential metabolic mechanisms including (1) neuromuscular inefficiency, (2) cardiovascular recovery deficits, or (3) both, in individuals with complaints of vocal fatigue