Functional imaging during speech production

Physiological studies of speech production have demonstrated that even simp le articulation involves a range of specialized motor and cognitive process es and the neural mechanisms responsible for speech reflect this complexity . Recently, a number of functional imaging techniques have contributed to o ur knowledge of the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological correlates of sp eech production. These new imaging approaches have the advantage of permitt ing study of large numbers of normal and disordered subjects but they bring with them a host of new methodological concerns. One of the challenges for understanding language production is the recording of articulation itself. The problems associated with measuring the vocal tract and measuring the n eural activity during overt speech are reviewed. It is argued that advances in understanding fundamental questions such as what are the planning units of speech, what is the role of feedback during speech and what is the infl uence of learning, await the development of better methods for assessing ta sk performance. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.