Lip EMG response to stuttering

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Date
2020
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Publisher
University of Alabama Libraries
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether viewing stuttering behaviors would elicit lip muscle activity. Thirty college-aged participants produced a series of 20 sentences and were presented with audio and audio-video versions of each sentence that included either stuttered or non-stuttered target words. Each target word included a syllable-initial stop sound that was either voiced or unvoiced and associated with tongue versus lip constriction location. Raw electromyographic (EMG) signals were acquired via surface electrodes from the upper lip, which were then digitized and high-pass filtered at 1 Hz and then rectified by an RMS filter. Overall area in volts was calculated for 1 second intervals associated with each target word. Results showed that EMG activity was greater for the speaking condition compared to audio and audio-video conditions, and that EMG activity was greater for the lip compared to tongue constriction location and for voiced versus unvoiced sounds in the speaking condition only. However, there was no appreciable EMG activity during the audio or audio-video conditions, contrary to expectations. Thus, although the study paradigm was successful in acquiring EMG signals, the stimuli failed to elicit lip activity.

Description
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation
Keywords
Speech therapy
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