An informal logic of feedback-based temporal control

Abstract

A conceptual framework and mathematical model of the control of articulatory timing are presented, in which feedback systems play a fundamental role. The model applies both to relatively small timescales, such as within syllables, and to relatively large timescales, such as multi-phrase utterances. A crucial distinction is drawn between internal/predictive feedback and external/sensory feedback. It is argued that speakers modulate attention to feedback to speed up and slow down speech. A number of theoretical implications of the framework are discussed, including consequences for the understanding of syllable structure and prosodic phrase organization.

Speech's syllabic rhythm and articulatory features produced under different auditory feedback conditions identify Parkinsonism

“…Conditions 1, 2, and 3 (normal feedback, whisper, and noise) manipulate the amount of external auditory feedback: full, partial, and none 27 . This manipulation is based on the hypothesis that speakers use sensory feedback to control speech rate and articulatory timing 28 . Condition 4 also involves no auditory feedback but provides the subject with an external cue of the target rate.…”