Oropharyngeal and Aryepiglottic Narrowing for Twang: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare vocal tract configurations between speech and twang qualities. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from five professional vocalists while producing the sustained vowel /i/. Width and area measurements were obtained from the axial (ie, transverse) images to evaluate oropharyngeal narrowing and aryepiglottic (AES) narrowing. RESULTS: Four out of five participants exhibited a smaller vocal tract area for twang than for speech at the oropharyngeal level, with the extent of narrowing ranging from 18.8% to 49.6%. Only one participant showed a meaningful decrease in oropharyngeal anteroposterior (AP) width, while three participants showed meaningful decreases in oropharyngeal mediolateral (ML) width for twang compared to speech. At the AES level, all participants showed a smaller vocal tract area for twang than for speech, with the extent of narrowing ranging from 11.8% to 52.4%. Two participants exhibited meaningful decreases in AES AP width, while three participants showed meaningful decreases in AES ML width for twang compared to speech. CONCLUSIONS: Axial imaging revealed oropharyngeal and AES narrowing associated with twang, more prominent in the ML than the AP dimension. Notable individual variations in the mechanism and degree of narrowing at the oropharyngeal and AES levels were observed. The degree of narrowing varied among participants, highlighting the complexity of physiological maneuvers involved in twang production. Future research is necessary to identify broader patterns in twang production for effective pedagogic and therapeutic applications.

The Role of Instructions in Motor Learning of Oral Versus Nasalized Speech Targets.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate how general, implicit instructions with auditory-perceptual emphasis; specific, explicit instructions with biomechanical focus; or both affect learning of oral-nasal balance control in speech. METHOD: Thirty healthy, vocally untrained participants were assigned to one of three instructional groups (i.e., implicit, explicit, and integrated) and learned to produce oral versus nasalized vowel-, syllable-, and phrase-level targets during once-weekly sessions over 4 weeks. Learning gains and performance variability were analyzed using nasometry. RESULTS: We observed a significant main effect of instruction type on learning gains at phrase level (p = .016). Specifically, the integrated group (M = 59.8%) significantly outperformed the explicit group (M = 37.9%) and numerically outperformed the implicit group (M = 45.1%). For nasalized phrase targets, results revealed a significant main effect of instruction type on performance variability (p = .042), but pairwise comparisons between instruction groups were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of implicit processes via auditory-perceptual modeling and explicit processes via relevant biomechanical directives resulted in larger motor learning gains, especially at higher levels of task complexity (i.e., phrase) compared to providing implicit or explicit instruction alone. The higher performance variability (i.e., less stable productions) that was sometimes induced by explicit instruction did not negatively impact learning when integrated with implicit instruction. Clinical implications for speech/voice therapy models are discussed.

Task-Dependent Velopharyngeal Timing in Singers with Classical Training.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined velopharyngeal (VP) timing characteristics during singing and speaking tasks among singers with varying degrees of classical training. METHODS: Pressure-flow data were collected when eight soprano singers sang and spoke the phrase, "I will say hamper," at different pitch (C4 and C5) and loudness levels (soft, medium, and loud). VP aerodynamic variables (VP gap, peak nasal airflow [NF], and peak intraoral pressure [OP]) and timing variables (NF pulse duration, OP pulse duration, and total duration of the /mp/ sequence) were of particular interest. RESULTS: Results of linear mixed-effects models showed no significant main effect of task type (speaking vs. singing) on VP aerodynamic variables. Task type was found to have a statistically significant main effect on OP pulse duration (F(1, 77) = 27.590, P < 0.05) and total duration of the /mp/ sequence (F(1, 75.034) = 17.895, P < 0.05), with both durational measures significantly shorter for singing (OP pulse duration: 200 ms, total duration of the /mp/ sequence: 212 ms) than for speaking (OP pulse duration: 228 ms, total duration of the /mp/ sequence: 238 ms). The pitch had a significant main effect on OP pulse duration, with C5 (207 ms) significantly shorter than C4 (221 ms). Loudness was found to have no significant main effects on any of the VP timing variables. CONCLUSIONS: VP timing patterns significantly differed between the singing and the speaking task. Specifically, the singers employed a quick OP pulse rise time, which shortened OP pulse duration as well as the total duration of the /mp/ sequence during the singing task in comparison to the speaking task. Robust VP timing patterns observed during singing may reflect the singers' skilled control of the VP mechanism to achieve functional and esthetic goals.

Histologic Investigation of the Salpingopharyngeus.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to characterize the histologic contents of the salpingopharyngeal fold. The primary objective was to observe the presence of salpingopharyngeus (SP) muscle fibers, particularly at the section near the muscle origin at the torus tubarius (TT). METHOD: Histologic samples of the salpingopharyngeal fold from 10 cadavers (six females and four males) were analyzed. Following a head bisection, a tissue sample measuring 5 mm in length along the course of the salpingopharyngeal fold was collected from one side (i.e., right or left). The tissue sample was taken from the estimated base of the TT to a point 5 mm inferiorly. Slides were prepared using a standard histological approach and basic pathological staining and analyzed via bright-field microscopy. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle fibers were identified in eight of the 10 tissue blocks of the salpingopharyngeal fold, with dense connective tissue identified in the remaining two tissue blocks. Glandular material was also identified in all 10 tissue blocks. CONCLUSIONS: Skeletal muscle fibers and/or dense connective tissue can be consistently identified in the section of the salpingopharyngeal fold near the TT. Glandular material is also consistently present in this same region of the salpingopharyngeal fold. These findings are discussed in relation to possible functional roles of the salpingopharyngeal fold contents, including the SP muscle.

Velopharyngeal Function Post Head and Neck Cancer: A Review.

BACKGROUND: Velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) in head and neck cancer is frequently clinically reported, affecting both speech and swallowing function. This review sought to identify the tumor subsites and treatment modalities reported in association with VPD and summarize the current reporting methodology of VPD-related speech and swallowing outcomes in patients following head and neck cancer treatment. METHODS: A literature search was conducted through December 2020 using electronic databases and a total of 15 studies were included in review. RESULTS: Reported VPD was largely secondary to palate resections. Large variability in reporting methodology was noted with heavy reliance on speech-related perceptual measures and swallowing-related patient-reported outcomes over imaging and instrumental evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: This review revealed inconsistencies in evaluating and reporting VPD, which likely translates into inconsistencies in clinical management. Further attention to VPD secondary to other head and neck malignancies would provide a broader perspective on VPD through head and neck cancer treatment.

A Cadaveric and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Investigation of the Salpingopharyngeus.

Purpose The aim of the study was to update our information regarding the salpingopharyngeus (SP) muscle using cadaveric and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Primary objectives were to (a) observe the presence/absence of the muscle and (b) quantify and describe its dimensions and course. Method SP specimens from 19 cadavers (10 women, nine men) were analyzed. Following head bisection, measurements of SP, including width of the cartilaginous attachment (CW) and width of the superior muscle base (SMW), were taken before and after removal of the overlying mucosa. In addition, SP was analyzed in 15 healthy subjects (eight men, seven women) using high-resolution three-dimensional MRI data. CW and SMW measures were replicated in the paraxial MRI view. Results The presence of the salpingopharyngeal fold and muscle was confirmed bilaterally in all cadaveric and living subjects. Following mucosa removal, mean cadaveric CW and SMW measurements were 5.6 and 3.8 mm, respectively. Mean in vivo CW and SMW were 6.1 and 3.7 mm, respectively. Results from the hierarchical regression analyses revealed that, in both cadaveric and living groups, SMW is dependent on the relationship between age and body weight, after controlling for sex. Conclusions The salpingopharyngeal fold and SP muscle are always present bilaterally and can be quantified at the superior origin using both cadaveric and in vivo three-dimensional MRI data. Though both the superior origin and inferior course of SP are highly variable, the size of the SP muscle is dependent on characteristics known to affect muscle fibers, such as the relationship between age and body weight. Given the consistent and quantifiable presence of the SP muscle, its potential role in velopharyngeal function for speech and swallowing is reconsidered. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14347859.

A pilot investigation of twang quality using magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Twang quality is a bright, piercing quality often produced in contemporary pop/rock/country music, musical theatre singing, and character voices. Despite its potential application to voice therapy and singing pedagogy, limited information is available regarding the exact physiologic underpinnings of twang quality. The purpose of this study was to provide quantitative information regarding three-dimensional (3D) vocal tract configurations of twang quality using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Two participants, with professional singing and pedagogy experience in a variety of singing styles, sustained twang and speech quality on vowel /i/ while lying supine in the MRI scanner. Vocal tract measures included larynx height and velar height in the midsagittal view as well as lateral pharyngeal width, anteroposterior pharyngeal (AP) width, and pharyngeal area in the axial view. RESULTS: When compared to speech /i/, participants produced twang with a smaller pharyngeal area with significant narrowing in the lateral dimension, a slightly elevated laryngeal position, and closed VP port. Of note, Participant 1 also demonstrated significant pharyngeal narrowing in the AP dimension at the oropharyngeal level. CONCLUSION: The results are consistent with some aspects of previous descriptions of twang but provide further clarification regarding physiologic underpinnings of twang quality for therapeutic and pedagogic application.

Contracted Extravelar Segments of the Levator Veli Palatini Muscle: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Morphometric Study.

OBJECTIVES: To provide detailed descriptions of contraction-induced morphometric changes in the extravelar segments of the levator veli palatini (LVP) muscle using 3-dimensional (3-D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). DESIGN: Three-dimensional MRI data were acquired at rest and during "silent /i/" from 4 singers. During silent /i/, participants voluntarily sustained velar elevation while breathing orally for the entire scan time. Focusing on the extravelar segments, LVP length, angle of the muscle origin, and cross-sectional area (CSA), measurements were obtained and compared between tasks. RESULTS: Three of the 4 participants exhibited the expected patterns of change following concentric contraction of the LVP muscle. Consistent changes from the resting to the contracted state included reductions in LVP length by 13.5% and angle of the muscle origin by 9.8%, as well as increases in CSAs by 22.1%, on average. CONCLUSIONS: This study presented high-resolution data of the LVP muscle behavior with the first in vivo 3-D measurements of the contracted LVP muscle, which can be useful for the validation of computational models that aim at describing biomechanical properties of the LVP muscle in future research. The active behavior of the extravelar LVP muscle also provides some insight on optimal LVP muscle geometry to consider during cleft palate repair.

Differences in nasalance and nasality perception between Texas South and Midland dialects.

While previous research has primarily concerned the dialectal influence on speakers' production of oral-nasal balance, quantitatively represented by nasalance, information on cross-dialectal variation in nasality perception is limited. This study investigated the effects of speakers'/listeners' dialectal background on oral-nasal balance characteristics estimated by nasalance, as well as nasality perception measured by direct magnitude estimation with modulus. Represented by two geographically distinct regions, Texas South and Midland dialects were of special interest given that the two dialects lie at opposite ends of normal nasalance variation [Awan, Bressmann, Poburka, Roy, Sharp, and Watts. (2015). J. Speech Lang. Hear. Res. 58, 69-77]. Mean nasalance of various speech stimuli and direct magnitude estimation ratings on synthesized vowel stimuli with varying degrees of simulated nasalization were obtained from 62 participants (31 Texas South, 31 Midland). The results revealed that the two dialectal groups significantly differed in nasalance scores and nasality ratings, with Texas South exhibiting higher nasalance for standardized passage readings and assigning higher nasality ratings on the synthetic auditory stimuli than Midland. These findings indicate that, in addition to production variations of oral-nasal balance characteristics, perceptual variations of nasality exist at a dialectal level.

Effects of Age on Voice Onset Time and Variability in Children with Repaired Cleft Palate.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of age on voice onset time (VOT) and VOT variability in children with repaired cleft palate. METHODS: Twenty-two children with repaired cleft palate were allocated into two age groups: younger children (YC: n = 13) and older children (OC: n = 9). VOT measurements from monosyllabic words (/pɑ/, /tɑ/, and /kɑ/) and intraspeaker VOT variability estimated by coefficients of variation (CoV) of two age groups were compared. RESULTS: Age was found to have a statistically significant effect on VOT and VOT variability. Specifically, OC had significantly longer VOT (F(1,66) = 4.196, p < 0.05) and less VOT variability (F(1,66) = 6.007, p < 0.05) for English voiceless stops than YC. No statistically significant main effect for speech sample or age by speech sample interaction was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our data supplement the existing literature by adding VOT and VOT variability information for older children/adolescents with repaired cleft palate. Findings from the study suggest VOT patterns acquired at younger age appear to be further exaggerated and stabilized during the adolescent period among children with repaired cleft palate. A future study is necessary to determine different sources of VOT variability in children with a history of cleft palate, which may have clinical therapeutic implications.

Effects of regional dialect on oral-nasal balance and nasality perception.

While cross-dialectal variations in nasalance have been investigated in previous studies, the influence of regional dialect on listeners' perceptual ratings of nasality has received limited research attention. This study explored cross-dialectal differences in the production of oral-nasal balance and the perception of nasality, with special emphasis on Inland North (IN) and Midland (M) dialects in the USA. Twenty-six adults representing the IN (n = 15) and M (n = 11) dialects participated in the study. Oral-nasal balance characteristics and nasality perception were compared between dialects using mean nasalance of various speech stimuli, measured via nasometry, and perceptual ratings of nasality of synthetic vowel stimuli, measured using direct magnitude estimation (DME). Despite similar mean nasalance scores between two regional dialects for standardized passage readings and sustained vowels, IN and M groups significantly differed in their perceptual ratings of nasality, with the DMEs of IN listeners being consistently and significantly higher, i.e. more nasal, than those of M listeners. Our findings provide evidence for perceptual variations of nasality that may exist at a dialectal level in addition to cross-linguistic variations in the perception of nasality as reported by Lee et al. (2008). Further research is needed to determine to what extent perceptual variations of nasality exist in other dialects and how these variations manifest in perceptual judgments of hypernasality and its severity ratings.

Structural Changes Following Velopharyngeal Resistance Training (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy): A Preliminary Report.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility/effectiveness of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to document velopharyngeal (VP) structural changes induced by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in velar length and thickness, levator veli palatini (LVP) length and thickness, velar volume, and intravelar muscular proportion along the course of CPAP therapy participation (Pre-CPAP, Post-CPAP, and withdrawal). RESULTS: Velar and LVP lengths remained nearly the same, with the median changes (Δ) less than 0.6%, across repeated conditions. Although varying in magnitudes of change, median velar volume (Δ4%), velar thickness (Δ20%), LVP thickness (Δ17%), and intravelar muscular proportion (Δ10%) illustrated a consistent pattern of increases following the 8-week CPAP therapy. These VP structural measurements slightly decreased but remained above the pretraining condition after 8-week detraining. CONCLUSIONS: This report successfully demonstrated that MRI is a viable tool to document CPAP therapy-induced VP structural changes while providing preliminary empirical data.

Nasalization Amplitude-Timing Characteristics of Speakers With and Without Cleft Palate.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the amplitude-temporal relationships of acoustic nasalization in speakers with a range of nasality and to determine the extent to which each domain independently predicts the speaker's perceived oral-nasal balance. DESIGN: Rate-controlled speech samples, consisting of /izinizi/, /azanaza/, and /uzunuzu/, were recorded from 18 participants (14 with repaired cleft palate and 4 without cleft palate) using the Nasometer. The mean nasalance of the entire mid-vowel-nasal consonant-vowel (mid-VNV) sequence (amplitude-domain) and the duration of the nasalized segment of the mid-VNV sequence (temporal-domain) were obtained based on nasalance contours. RESULTS: Strong linear and vowel-dependent relationships were observed between the 2 domains of nasalization (adjusted R2 = 71.5%). Both the amplitude- and temporal-domain measures were found to reliably predict the speaker's perceived oral-nasal balance, with better overall model fit and higher classification accuracy rates observed in /izinizi/ and /uzunuzu/ than in /azanaza/. Despite poor specificity, the temporal-domain measure of /azanaza/ was found to have a strong correlation with the participants' Zoo passage nasalance scores (rs = .897, p < .01), suggesting its potential utility as a severity indicator of perceived nasality. CONCLUSIONS: With the use of relatively simple speech tasks and measurements representing the amplitude and temporal domains of nasalization, the present study provided practical guidelines for using the Nasometer in assessing patients with oral-nasal resonance imbalance. Findings suggest that both domain measures of nasalization should be examined across different vowel contexts, given that each domain may provide clinically relevant, yet different, information.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Velar Muscle Tissue Distribution in Healthy Adults.

OBJECTIVES: To examine muscle tissue distribution along the length of the velum in living individuals using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). DESIGN: Using the three-dimensional MRI data acquired from 10 normal white adults, two area measures including the muscular area and the total velar area were obtained from 10 oblique slices running perpendicular to velar length. A polynomial regression analysis was performed where the proportion of the muscular to the total velar area was regressed on the slice numbers running along the length of the velum. RESULTS: The proportion of the muscular to total velar area increased from the anterior section of the velum, reaching a maximum (33.24%) in the midsection, and decreasing in the posterior section of the velum. A third-order (cubic) polynomial function that best illustrated the proportional data (R(2) = .47) was derived. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that MRI is a viable tool to examine the muscle tissue distribution of the velum in living individuals. Although the overall pattern in the muscle tissue distribution of the healthy velum was similar to that reported in previous literature based on cadaver specimens, the participants in the present study appeared to have greater muscular proportion of the velum. The muscular proportion measure derived from the healthy living individuals can be used as an additional parameter accounting for sufficient intravelar muscle mass for future studies.

Videofluoroscopic investigation of body position on articulatory positioning.

PURPOSE: To quantitatively examine the effects of body position on the positioning of the epiglottis, tongue, and velum at rest and during speech. METHOD: Videofluoroscopic data were obtained from 12 healthy adults in the supine and upright positions at rest and during speech while the participants produced 12 VCV sequences. The effects of body position, target sounds, and adjacent sounds on structural positioning and vowel formant structure were investigated. RESULTS: Velar retropositioning in the supine position was the most consistent pattern observed at rest. During speech, all structures, with varying degrees of adjustment, appeared to work against the gravitational pull, resulting in no significant narrowing in the oro- and nasopharyngeal regions while in the supine position. Minimal differences in the formant data between the body positions were also observed. Overall, structural positioning was significantly dependent on the target and adjacent sounds regardless of body position. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that structural positioning in response to gravity varied across individuals based on the type of activities being performed. With varying degrees of positional adjustment across different structures, fairly consistent articulatory positioning in the anterior-posterior dimension was maintained in different body positions during speech.

Effect of posture on deglutitive biomechanics in healthy individuals.

The purpose of this study was to assess displacement of oropharyngeal structures, particularly the hyoid bone and velum, and variations in timing of the pharyngeal stage of swallowing in the upright versus the supine position. Twelve Caucasian adult subjects between 19 and 27 years of age participated. Subjects were recorded swallowing 7 cc of liquid barium in the upright and supine positions. The hyoid bone had a significantly greater amount of anterior displacement while in the supine position compared to that of the upright position (p < 0.01). While in the upright position, the velum comes to a fully elevated position at nearly the same time as the initiation of the pharyngeal swallow (within an average of 27 ms of each other), whereas in the supine position the velum continues to elevate on average 115 ms after the initiation of the pharyngeal swallow. Results indicated a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the amount of velar movement from rest to the fully elevated position between the upright and supine positions for female subjects. The results from the study demonstrate variations in hyoid displacement, velar movement, and bolus movement through the pharynx with respect to the two body positions and the subjects' gender.

Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of velopharyngeal structures.

PURPOSE: To report the feasibility of using a 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol for examining velopharyngeal structures. Using collected 3D MRI data, the authors investigated the effect of sex on the midsagittal velopharyngeal structures and the levator veli palatini (levator) muscle configurations. METHOD: Ten Caucasian healthy adults (5 women and 5 men) participated. A whole-head 3D MRI scan was obtained while participants were at rest in the supine position. Basic anatomic parameters of the velopharynx including midsagittal velopharyngeal structures and levator muscle configurations were compared between sexes. RESULTS: Detailed information on the 3D MRI protocol and data analysis method was introduced in the study. On the basis of the data, only the length of the levator muscle showed a statistically significant sex difference: Male participants had significantly longer levator muscles than those of female participants. CONCLUSIONS: The present study successfully demonstrated the use of 3D MRI in quantifying major velopharyngeal structures and provided additional data on the anatomic variations that exist in healthy adult individuals.

Real-time magnetic resonance imaging of velopharyngeal activities with simultaneous speech recordings.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between acoustic and physiologic aspects of the velopharyngeal mechanism during acoustically nasalized segments of speech in normal individuals by combining fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with simultaneous speech recordings and subsequent acoustic analyses. DESIGN: Ten normal Caucasian adult individuals participated in the study. Midsagittal dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and simultaneous speech recordings were performed while participants were producing repetitions of two rate-controlled nonsense syllables including /zanaza/ and /zunuzu/. Acoustic features of nasalization represented as the peak amplitude and the bandwidth of the first resonant frequency (F1) were derived from speech at the rate of 30 sets per second. Physiologic information was based on velar and tongue positional changes measured from the dynamic MRI data, which were acquired at a rate of 21.4 images per second and resampled with a corresponding rate of 30 images per second. Each acoustic feature of nasalization was regressed on gender, vowel context, and velar and tongue positional variables. RESULTS: Acoustic features of nasalization represented by F1 peak amplitude and bandwidth changes were significantly influenced by the vowel context surrounding the nasal consonant, velar elevated position, and tongue height at the tip. CONCLUSIONS: Fast MRI combined with acoustic analysis was successfully applied to the investigation of acoustic-physiologic relationships of the velopharyngeal mechanism with the type of speech samples employed in the present study. Future applications are feasible to examine how anatomic and physiologic deviations of the velopharyngeal mechanism would be acoustically manifested in individuals with velopharyngeal incompetence.

Faster dynamic imaging of speech with field inhomogeneity corrected spiral fast low angle shot (FLASH) at 3 T.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of magnetic field inhomogeneity correction on achievable imaging speeds for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of articulating oropharyngeal structures during speech and to determine if sufficient acquisition speed is available for visualizing speech structures with real-time MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed a spiral fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequence that combines several acquisition techniques with an advanced image reconstruction approach that includes magnetic field inhomogeneity correction. A simulation study was performed to examine the interaction between imaging speed, image quality, number of spiral shots, and field inhomogeneity correction. Six volunteer subjects were scanned to demonstrate adequate visualization of articulating structures during simple speech samples. RESULTS: The simulation study confirmed that magnetic field inhomogeneity correction improves the available tradeoff between image quality and speed. Our optimized sequence co-acquires magnetic field maps for image correction and achieves a dynamic imaging rate of 21.4 frames per second, significantly faster than previous studies. Improved visualization of anatomical structures, such as the soft palate, was also seen from the field-corrected reconstructions in data acquired on volunteer subjects producing simple speech samples. CONCLUSION: Adequate temporal resolution of articulating oropharyngeal structures during speech can be obtained by combining outer volume suppression, multishot spiral imaging, and magnetic field corrected image reconstruction. Correcting for the large, dynamic magnetic field variation in the oropharyngeal cavity improves image quality and allows for higher temporal resolution.

Dynamic imaging of speech and swallowing with MRI.

Dynamic imaging with MRI holds great promise for visualizing soft tissue structures in the oropharyngeal region during speech and swallowing studies. However, MRI suffers from historically slow acquisition speed and sensitivity to significant magnetic susceptibility differences in this region. In this work, we describe our efforts in creating high temporal resolution, serial acquisitions of the muscles of the oropharyngeal region. We describe our imaging approach that leads to acquisition rates of up to 21 frames per second. Additionally, we compare the serial acquisition scheme to gated acquisitions that suffer from temporal blur due to limited repeatability of the dynamic action.