Since the first edition in 1985, the series of international Nijmegen conferences on speech motor control have reflected tremendous progress in this area. The initial focus was on applications of the just expanding field of motor control in stuttering. The second conference (1990) highlighted the development of more general motor control models and the inclusion of higher order psychomotor and psycholinguistic functions, broadening the scope to other motor speech disorders than stuttering. At the third conference (1996), more emphasis was put on the emerging field of brain imaging. In addition, development of speech motor control became a prominent topic. At the last conference (2001), we witnessed the introduction of important theoretical neurophysiological and neurobehavioral concepts, and a strong growing interest in the ‘interface’ between higher order cognitive/psycholinguistic processes and speech production.
Now, we are preparing for the fifth edition in 2006. One of the major developments we have witnessed is a stronger interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of speech motor research. Integration seems to be the key-concept: integration of principles and models of perception-action relations in general and speech as an audio-visual-speech-motor performance in particular; biomechanical, and neurobiological aspects of motor control in general, and the biomechanics and neurological control mechanisms of speech in particular; the genetics of motor learning (automation) and of language disorders in general, and of speech motor learning and phonology in particular. Thus, fundamental insights in speech motor control processes are emerging, showing a stronger embedding in general aspects of the origin, development and maintenance of cognitive, linguistic and motor processes as well as demonstrating its unique properties as part of the human genetic make-up.
These recent developments are expressed in the outline of our program:
Topic 1. Brain imaging, genetic and neurobiological research
Topic 2. Modelling of speech motor control
Topic 3. Development of speech motor control
Topic 4: Disorders of speech motor control
Topic 5. Methodology and technical innovations
Like previous years, we will invite well-known established scholars as well as promising relatively new researchers who have made important contributions to these areas to discuss recent trends, new insights and future prospects.