Hierarchical Control of Speech Perception and Production

Christian Kell

Perception and production can be interpreted rather as two sides of the same control process instead of two separate cognitive modules. I will present a theoretical framework that can be used to explain findings in speech perception as well as production. As speech requires control of multiple hierarchically organized parameters, the proposed framework models neural control of speech as a hierarchy of nested control loops. I will map experimental evidence onto theoretical predictions and discuss the challenges that such a perspective brings along.

Short Bio: Christian Kell is Professor of Translational Neuroscience at Goethe University and the Director of the Cooperative Brain Imaging Frankfurt. His research focuses on the relevance of the factor time for cognition: he investigates the dynamics of neural speech production control and neural dynamics underlying cognition that change in the course of a day, i.e. processes related with chronobiology. He collaborates with Marseille-based Elin Runnqvist and Benjamin Morillon.