FURI | Fall 2018

Startling Speech: Eliciting Prepared Speech Using Startling Auditory Stimulus in Stroke Survivors

The research team is attempting to observe a difference in the onset latency and amplitude of electromyographic signals in the facial muscles between a voluntary and a startled speech to determine if the startle circuit in stroke patients affects speech. If it is shown that startled speech in stroke patients is possible, the intact startle circuit could be exploited as a tool in speech therapy to potentially enhance recovery time for those who suffer from aphasia. Further research could lead to the physical mapping of neural connections that elicit speech, allowing for alternative methods of rehabilitation.