LXIX Electromyographic Investigation of the Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscles Related to Speech Sounds

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The action potential pattern of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles was investigated especially related to speech sound production. During phonation marked electrical activity was found in the cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, lateral cricoarytenoid and interarytenoid muscles, while there was little or no activity in the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle. The change in electrical activity began before the onset of speech sounds with occasional exceptions for voiceless consonant syllables. The time interval ([DELTA]t) from the beginning of the change in electrical activity to the onset of speech sounds was greater in the thyroarytenoid, lateral cricoarytenoid, interarytenoid and posterior cricoarytenoid muscles than in the cricothyroid muscle. [DELTA]t was greatest for vowel syllables, and smaller for nasal, voiced consonant and voiceless consonant syllables in descending order. When 2 syllables were uttered in succession, temporary change in electrical activity corresponding to voiceless consonant was found in the thyroarytenoid, lateral cricoarytenoid, interarytenoid and posterior cricoarytenoid muscles, but not in the cricothyroid muscle.