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Abstract #3687

Real-Time MRI of Speaking: Preliminary Experience at a Temporal Resolution of 33ms

Aaron Niebergall1, Shuo Zhang1, Martin Uecker, 12, Jens Frahm1

1Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH am Max-Planck-Institut fuer biophysikalische Chemie, Goettingen, Germany; 2Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States

Previous dynamic studies of speaking mechanism using MRI suffer mainly from susceptibility artifacts and insufficient temporal resolution. Here, we applied the recently introduced real-time MRI technique based on radial FLASH acquisition and nonlinear inverse reconstruction. Typical images had an in-plane resolution of 1.5 mm and acquisition times of 33 ms (30 fps), and are free from susceptibility or motion artifacts. The movies successfully resolved the rapid and coordinated movements of the main articulators such as the lips, tongue, velum and vocal folds, during production of vowels, consonants, words and sentences. It thus promises a useful tool to study speech production.

Keywords

accomplished acoustic acquisition advantage anatomical anatomy applications applied approaches array articulators articulatory artifacts asked aspects audio bandwidth behaviors bilateral cancellation captured carriers characteristics characterized coil combination combines computer conditions configurations consonant consonants contained coordinated coverage detailed electrical element engineering entire evaluation existing experience fast female flash flexible frames free functional great healthy height human include insufficient intentional introduced inversion lack laryngeal larynx letters linguistic male martin materials meaningless microphone modern monitor motion movements movies namely natural noise nonlinear opening optical particularly phonetic physiology position potential preliminary problems process production products promises proposed protrusion quality radial rapid real recently reconstruction recording reflects regularized resolution resolve science segments sentences sets several shot solve spatial speak speaking speech spoiled standalone structure studies subjects susceptibility sustaining synchronous system tasks temporal tissue tool tract trio typical understand unique useful various velum visualized vocal vowel vowels words