Speech motor programming in hypokinetic and ataxic dysarthria

It is widely accepted that the cerebellar and basal ganglia control circuits contribute to the programming of movement. Converging evidence from neuroimaging, limb control, and neuropsychological studies suggests that (1) people with cerebellar disease have reduced ability to program movement sequences in advance of movement onset and (2) people with Parkinson's disease are unable to maintain a programmed response or to rapidly switch between responses. Despite a substantial supporting literature, no studies have addressed these potential areas of speech programming disruption for speakers with ataxic and hypokinetic dysarthria. Control participants and adults with dysarthria completed speech reaction time protocols designed to capture these aspects of utterance preparation. Results provided initial support for processing deficits in speakers with ataxic and hypokinetic dysarthria that are separable from motor execution impairments.