SimulScan and Partial Least Squares: Linking speech and swallowing dynamics to brain function

Motivation: SimulScan enables the joint imaging of dynamic oropharyngeal movements during speech and swallowing along with their central control from functional MRI. Goal(s): The large, complex dataset requires memory-efficient analysis to find the uncover the underlying relationships between the dynamic and functional imaging data. Approach: Here we develop a memory-efficient implementation of partial least square (PLS) and apply it to a blocked tongue tapping task. Results: The PLS method separates out correlated motions and brain function for different components of the task. Impact: SimulScan with PLS analysis can enable the visualization of central control of complex processes such as speech and swallowing. This approach will enable the in-depth study of healthy and disordered speech and swallowing mechanisms in age and disease.