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Updated: May 28, 2026
06:56
Somatosensory Event-related Potentials from Orofacial Skin Stretch Stimulation
Published on: December 18, 2015
Speech sounds alter facial skin sensation
1Dept. of Psychology, McGill Univ., 1205 Dr. Penfield Ave., Montréal, QC, Canada H3A 1B1.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|October 21, 2011
Summary
Speech sounds alter how we perceive facial touch, demonstrating a two-way link between auditory and somatosensory systems in speech processing. This highlights the somatosensory system's role in both speech production and perception.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory and Somatosensory Integration
- Speech Processing
Background:
- Auditory and somatosensory information interact during speech production and perception.
- Previous work showed facial somatosensory input alters speech sound perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if speech sounds modulate the perception of facial somatosensory inputs.
- To explore the specificity of this auditory-somatosensory interaction in the context of speech.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a robotic device to generate facial skin deformations mimicking speech movements.
- Presented participants with these deformations alongside speech sounds.
- Assessed participants' perception of the somatosensory stimuli.
Main Results:
- Speech sounds significantly altered the perception of facial skin deformation.
- This modulation was specific to speech sounds and facial somatosensory input.
- Non-speech sounds or somatosensory input on other body parts (forearm, palm) did not elicit the same effect.
Conclusions:
- Auditory speech information specifically modulates neural processing in the orofacial somatosensory system.
- This finding supports a significant role for the somatosensory system in both speech production and perception.
- The interaction is specific to speech, suggesting dedicated neural pathways.
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