Speed-accuracy tradeoffs in human speech production

Speech motor actions are performed quickly, while simultaneously maintaining a high degree of accuracy. Are speed and accuracy in conflict during speech production? Speed-accuracy tradeoffs have been shown in many domains of human motor action, but have not been directly examined in the domain of speech production. The present work seeks evidence for Fitts’ law, a rigorous formulation of this fundamental tradeoff, in speech articulation kinematics by analyzing USC-TIMIT, a real-time magnetic resonance imaging data set of speech production. A theoretical framework for considering Fitts’ law with respect to models of speech motor control is elucidated. Methodological challenges in seeking relationships consistent with Fitts’ law are addressed, including the operational definitions and measurement of key variables in real-time MRI data. Results suggest the presence of speed-accuracy tradeoffs for certain types of speech production actions, with wide variability across syllable position, an...

言语运动动作通常以高速执行，同时仍能维持极高的精准度。言语产生过程中，速度与准确性是否存在冲突？速度-准确性权衡现象已在诸多人类运动动作领域得到验证，但尚未在言语产生领域获得直接考察。本研究通过分析用于言语产生研究的实时磁共振成像数据集USC-TIMIT，在言语发音运动学领域中探寻菲茨定律（Fitts' Law）——该基本权衡关系的严谨量化模型——的相关证据。本文阐明了结合言语运动控制模型分析菲茨定律的理论框架，并探讨了在验证符合菲茨定律的关系时所面临的方法学挑战，包括对实时磁共振成像数据中关键变量的操作定义与测量方案。研究结果表明，部分类型的言语产生动作存在速度-准确性权衡现象，且该现象在不同音节位置间存在广泛差异，[内容未完]