Contribution of the Somatosensory System to Speech Perceptual Processing

Contribution of the Somatosensory System to Speech Perceptual Processing Aim 3

These studies test the hypothesis that the repeated pairing of somatosensory inputs with speech sounds, such as occurs during speech motor learning, results in changes to the perceptual classification of speech sounds.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Consolidation; Speech
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Adaptation; Behavioral: Facial Skin Stretch

Detailed Description

This study will assess changes to the perceptual classification of speech sounds that are related to repeated pairing of somatosensory and auditory inputs (as would occur during speech motor learning). Before and after the training, base-line and post-training auditory perceptual performance will be examined in the absence of somatosensory stimulation, in order to evaluate the effects of the pairing on speech perception. Perceptual classification and speech motor learning will both be assessed on a 0 to 100 scale.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 160
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Quebec
    • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A1G1
      • McGill University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• right handed adults
• no known physical or neurological abnormalities

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with:
• cardiac pacemaker
• surgical clips or values on the heart
• implants
• metal or metallic fragments in any part of the body
• pregnancy
• claustrophobia
• a personal or family history of epilepsy
• currently taking antipsychotic drugs
• currently taking antidepressant drugs
• currently taking antianxiety drugs.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Adaptation to Altered Auditory Feedback	Behavioral: Adaptation; Sensorimotor adaptation in speech
Experimental: Adaptation to Altered Auditory Feedback + Forward Skin Stretch	Behavioral: Adaptation; Sensorimotor adaptation in speech; Behavioral: Facial Skin Stretch; Facial skin stretch
Experimental: Adaptation to Altered Auditory Feedback + Backward Skin Stretch	Behavioral: Adaptation; Sensorimotor adaptation in speech; Behavioral: Facial Skin Stretch; Facial skin stretch
Experimental: Speech Repetition Control	Behavioral: Adaptation; Sensorimotor adaptation in speech

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Speech Motor Learning	Learning is assessed as the change in speech sounds (speech formant frequencies) on a 0 to 100 scale.	Performance as measured at the end of learning (30 minute session)
Speech Perception	Auditory speech perception evaluates auditory classification and is assessed on a 0 to 100 scale. All conditions of skin stretch involve the same speech perception task.	Perception is evaluated prior to and after perceptual training (30 minute session)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale University
• Collaborators: McGill University; National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David Ostry, Haskins Laboratories

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): July 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 19, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 23, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 26, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 17, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Communication; Verbal Behavior; Speech; Physiological Phenomena; Biological Phenomena; Adaptation, Physiological; Adaptation, Biological; Acclimatization
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2000025475_b; R01DC017439 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No