Effect of deep brain stimulation on different speech subsystems in patients with multiple sclerosis

The effect of deep brain stimulation on articulation and phonation subsystems in seven patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was examined. Production parameters in fast syllable-repetitions were defined and measured, and the phonation quality during vowel productions was analyzed. Speech material was recorded for patients (with and without stimulation) and for a group of healthy control speakers. With stimulation, the precision of glottal and supraglottal articulatory gestures is reduced, whereas phonation has a greater tendency to be hyperfunctional in comparison with the healthy control data. Different effects on the two speech subsystems are induced by electrical stimulation of the thalamus in patients with MS.