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Motor programming in apraxia of speech
Edwin Maas1, Donald A Robin, David L Wright
1Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona, 1131 E. 2nd Street, P.O. Box 210071, Tucson, AZ 85721-0071, USA. emaas@email.arizona.edu
Brain and Language
|April 18, 2008
Summary
This study found that individuals with Apraxia of Speech (AOS) have difficulty with the preprogramming stage of motor tasks, not with sequencing or initiating movements. This suggests a central, modality-independent deficit in motor programming for AOS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Apraxia of Speech (AOS) is characterized by motor programming impairments, but the precise nature of this deficit is not fully understood.
- A recent two-stage model proposes distinct preprogramming (INT) and serial ordering (SEQ) stages in motor programming.
- Understanding the specific stage affected in AOS is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether Apraxia of Speech (AOS) involves a deficit specifically in the preprogramming (INT) stage of motor processing.
- To determine if the deficit in AOS is process-specific, affecting INT more than serial ordering (SEQ) and movement initiation.
- To test the hypothesis that AOS presents a central, modality-general motor programming deficit.
Main Methods:
- A reaction time paradigm was employed to measure study time (INT) and reaction time (SEQ).
- Two experiments were conducted: one with finger movements and another with speech movements.
- Patients with AOS were compared to control participants on these motor tasks.
Main Results:
- Patients with AOS exhibited significantly longer preprogramming times (INT) compared to controls.
- Sequencing and initiation times (SEQ) were found to be normal in patients with AOS relative to controls.
- Findings suggest a deficit in the preprogramming stage of motor processing for individuals with AOS.
Conclusions:
- The results support a process-specific deficit in the preprogramming (INT) stage for Apraxia of Speech (AOS).
- The findings indicate that this motor programming deficit is central and modality-independent, affecting both speech and non-speech movements.
- This research contributes to a clearer understanding of the underlying mechanisms of AOS.
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