Human Interaction Lab



Communication requires people to produce and perceive speech, and to coordinate these behaviors to succeed. What happens when the ability to produce or perceive speech is impaired by neurological diseases or events? And how does this affect the ability to engage and interact with others? The overarching goal of research in the Human Interaction Lab is to improve communication for people with neurological speech disorders, specifically those with dysarthria.

In this lab, we investigate communication as a dynamic and collaborative activity, in which interacting individuals are tightly linked as part of an interdependent system. We have built a program of research systematically investigating how listeners understand and perceptually adapt to the degraded speech of people with dysarthria. This work now supports listener-focused perceptual training as an original and theoretically-grounded intervention approach to improve intelligibility of speakers with dysarthria. Our second central research line has moved the field’s understanding of dysarthria, and its impacts, into the realm of conversation. This work focuses on how conversational dyads dynamically coordinate their interaction behaviors for improved communication outcomes that extend beyond simply understanding spoken words. Another research line has examined the impact of background noise on understanding dysarthria and has advanced methods to reduce the impacts. These complementary research lines are highly interdisciplinary, drawing from speech science, cognitive psychology, linguistics, computational modelling, neurology, and engineering. Research in the Human Interaction Lab is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIDCD).


Stephanie A. Borrie, Ph.D.
Lab Director

Stephanie A. Borrie, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director, Human Interaction Lab
Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education
Utah State University





Refereed Journal Publications

* denotes graduate and ** denotes undergraduate student collaborator; ^ denotes postdoctoral collaborator. Documents are provided for personal or educational use only. Downloading a document is considered a request for a single copy.

2024

Wynn, C.J., Barrett, T.S., & Borrie, S.A. (2024). Conversational speech behaviors are context dependent. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 67, 1360 1369. pdf

Chieng*, A.C.J., Wynn, C.J., Wong, T.P., Barrett, T.S., & Borrie, S.A. (2024). Lexical alignment is robust across contexts in Non-WEIRD adult-child interactions. Cognitive Science, 48, e13417. pdf

2023

Borrie, S.A., Hepworth*, T., Wynn, C.J., Hustad, K.C., & Landford, K.L. (2023). Perceptual learning of dysarthria in adolescence. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 66, 3791–3803. pdf

Yoho, S.E., Barrett, T.S., & Borrie, S.A. (2023). The influence of sensorineural hearing loss on the relationship between the perception of speech in noise and dysarthric speech. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 66, 4025–4036. pdf

Fusaroli, M., Simonsen, A., Borrie, S.A., Low, D.M., Parola, A., Raschi, E., Poluzzi, E., & Fusaroli, R. (2023). Identifying medications underlying communication atypicalities in psychotic and affective disorders: A pharmacosurveillance study within the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 66, 3242-3259. pdf

Wynn*, C.J., Barrett., T.S., Berisha, V., Liss, J.M., & Borrie., S.A. (2023). Speech entrainment in adolescent conversations: A developmental perspective. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 66, 3132–3150. pdf

Borrie, S.A., Yoho, S.E., Healy, E., & Barrett, T.S. (2023). The application of time-frequency masking to improve intelligibility of dysarthric speech in background noise. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 66, 1853–1866. pdf

Fletcher, A., Potts*, M., & Borrie, S.A. (2023). Educational information improves listener attitudes of people with dysarthria secondary to Parkinson’s disease. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 32, 1099–1109. pdf

Lansford, K.L., Barrett, T. S., & Borrie, S.A (2023). Cognitive predictors of perception and adaptation to dysarthric speech in young adult listeners. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 66 30-47. pdf

2022

Fletcher, A.R., Wisler, A.A., Gruver*, E., & Borrie, S.A. (2022). Beyond speech intelligibility: Quantifying listener effort and engagement with dysarthric speech. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 65, 4060–4070. pdf

Wynn*, C.J., & Borrie, S.A. (2022). Classifying conversational entrainment of speech behavior: An expanded framework and review. Journal of Phonetics. 94, 101173. pdf

Wynn*, C.J., Barrett, T.S., & Borrie, S.A. (2022). Rhythm perception, speaking rate entrainment, and conversational quality: A mediated model. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 65, 2187–2203. pdf

Wynn*, C.J., Josephson*, E.R. & Borrie, S.A. (2022). An examination of articulatory precision in autistic children and adults. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 65, 1416–1425. pdf

Borrie, S.A., Wynn*, C.J., Berisha, V., & Barrett, T.S. (2022). From speech acoustics to communicative participation in dysarthria: Towards a causal framework. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 65, 405-418. pdf

2021

Borrie, S.A. & Lansford, K.L. (2021). A perceptual learning approach for dysarthria remediation: An updated review of experimental studies. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 64, 3060-3073. pdf

Borrie, S.A., Lansford, K.L., & Barrett, T.S. (2021). A clinical advantage: Experience informs recognition and adaptation to a novel talker with dysarthria. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 64, 1503–1514. pdf

Lubold^, N., Willi^, M.M., Borrie, S.A., Barrett, T.S., & Berisha, V. (2021). Healthy communication partners modify their speech when conversing with individuals with Parkinson's disease. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 64, 1539–1549. pdf

Knollhoff, S., Borrie, S.A., Barrett, T.S., & Searl, J. (2021). Listener impressions of alaryngeal communication modalities. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 23, 540-547.

Hirsh*, M.E., Lansford, K.L., Barrett, T.S., & Borrie, S.A. (2021). Generalized learning of dysarthric speech between male and female talkers. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 64, 444–451. pdf

2020

Borrie, S.A., Wynn*, C.J., Berisha, V, Lubold^, N., Willi^, M.M., Coelho, C.A., & Barrett, T.S. (2020). Conversational coordination of articulation responds to context: A clinical test case with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 63, 2567–2577. pdf

Lansford, K.L., Borrie, S.A., Barrett, T.S., & Flechaus**, C. (2020). When additional training isn’t enough: Further evidence that unpredictable speech inhibits adaptation. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 63, 1700-1711. pdf

Wynn*, C.J., & Borrie, S.A. (2020). Methodologies matter: The impact of research design on conversational entrainment outcomes. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 63, 1352–1360. pdf

Borrie, S.A., Barrett, T.S., Liss, J.M., & Berisha, V. (2020). Sync pending: Characterizing conversational entrainment in dysarthria using a multidimensional, clinically-informed approach. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 63, 83-94. pdf

2019

Lansford, K.L., Borrie, S.A., & Barrett, T.S. (2019). Regularity matters: Unpredictable speech degradation inhibits adaptation to dysarthric speech. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62, 4282-4290. pdf

Wynn*, C.J., Borrie, S.A., & *Pope, K.A. (2019). Going with the flow: An examination of entrainment in typically developing children. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62, 3706–3713. pdf

Borrie, S.A., Barrett, T.S., Willi^, M.M., & Berisha, V. (2019). Syncing up for a good conversation: A clinically-meaningful methodology for capturing conversational entrainment in the speech domain. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62, 283–296. pdf

Borrie, S.A., Barrett, T.S., & Yoho, S.E. (2019). Autoscore: An open-source automated tool for scoring listener perception of speech. Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 145, 392-399. http://autoscore.usu.edu/ pdf

Yoho, S.E., Borrie, S.A., Barrett, T.S., & Whittaker*, D. (2019). Are there sex effects for speech intelligibility in American English? Examining the influence of talker, listener, and methodology. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 81, 558-570. pdf

Lubold^, N., Borrie, S.A., Barrett, T.S., Willi^, M.M., & Berisha, V. (2019). Do conversational partners entrain on articulatory precision? Proceedings of INTERSPEECH 2019. Paper number 1786, 1931–1935. pdf

2018

Borrie, S.A., Lansford, K.L. & Barrett, T.S. (2018). Understanding dysrhythmic speech: When rhythm does not matter and learning does not happen. Journal of Acoustical Society of America. 143, EL379-EL385. pdf

McLaughlin*, D.J, Baese-Berk, M.M, Bent, T., Borrie, S.A., & Van Engen, K. (2018). Coping with adversity: Individual differences in the perception of noisy and accented speech. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 80, 1559-1570. pdf

Wynn*, C.J., Borrie, S.A., & Sellars, T. (2018). Speech rate entrainment in children and adults with and without autism spectrum disorder. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 27, 965-974. pdf

Willi^, M.M., Borrie, S.A., Barrett, T.S., Tu^, M. & Berisha, V. (2018). A discriminative acoustic-prosodic approach for measuring local entrainment. Proceedings of INTERSPEECH 2018. Paper number 1419, 1–5. pdf

Parker*, M.A. & Borrie, S.A. (2018). Judgements of intelligence and likeability in young adult female speakers of American English: The influence of vocal fry and the surrounding acoustic-prosodic context. Journal of Voice, 32 538-545. pdf

Lansford, K.L., Luhrsen*, S., Ingvalson, E., & Borrie, S.A. (2018). Effects of familiarization on intelligibility of dysarthric speech in older adults with and without hearing loss. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 27, 91-98. pdf

Yoho, S.E. & Borrie, S.A. (2018). Combining degradations: The effect of background noise on intelligibility of disordered speech. Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 143, 281-286. pdf

2017

Borrie, S.A., Lansford, K.L. & Barrett, T.S. (2017). Generalized adaptation to dysarthric speech. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 60, 3110-3117. pdf

Borrie, S.A. & Schäfer, M.C.M. (2017). Effects of lexical and somatosensory feedback on long-term improvements in intelligibility of dysarthric speech. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 60 2151-2158. pdf

Borrie, S.A., Baese-Berk, M. Van Engen, K., & Bent, T. (2017). A relationship between processing speech in noise and dysarthric speech. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 141, 4660-4667. pdf

Borrie, S.A. & Delfino*, C. (2017). Conversational entrainment of vocal fry in young adult female American English speakers. Journal of Voice, 31, 513.e25–513.e32. pdf

Muñoz, K., Ong*, C., Borrie, S.A., Nelson, L.H., & Twohig, M. (2017). Audiologists’ communication behavior during hearing device management appointments. International Journal of Audiology, 56, 328-336. pdf

Borrie, S.A., Lansford, K.L. & Barrett, T.S. (2017). Rhythm perception and its role in recognition and learning of dysrhythmic speech. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 60, 561–570. pdf

2016

Bent, T., Baese-Berk, M., Borrie, S.A., & McKee*, M. (2016). Individual differences in the perception of unfamiliar regional, nonnative, and disordered speech varieties. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 140, 3775-3786. pdf

Lansford, K.L., Borrie, S.A., & Bystricky*, L. (2016). Use of crowdsourcing to assess the ecological validity of perceptual training paradigms in dysarthria. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 25, 233-239. pdf

2015

Borrie, S.A. & Schäfer, M.C.M. (2015). The role of somatosensory information in speech perception: Imitation improves recognition of disordered speech. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 58, 1708–1716. pdf

Borrie, S.A., Lubold*, N. & Pon-Barry, H. (2015). Disordered speech disrupts conversational entrainment: A study of acoustic-prosodic entrainment and communicative success in populations with communication challenges. Frontiers in Psychology, 6:1187. pdf

Borrie, S.A. (2015). Visual information: A help or hindrance to perceptual processing of dysarthric speech. Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 137, 1473-1480. pdf

Baese-Berk, M., Bent, T., Borrie, S.A., & McKee*, M. (2015). Individual differences in perception of unfamiliar speech. In The Scottish Consortium for ICPhS 2015 (Ed.), Proceedings of the 18th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences. Paper number 0460, 1–5. pdf

2014

Borrie, S.A. & Liss, J.M., (2014). Rhythm as a coordinating device: Entrainment with disordered speech. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 57, 815-824. pdf

2013

Borrie, S.A., McAuliffe, M.J., Liss, J.M., O’Beirne, G.A., & Anderson, T. (2013). The role of linguistic and indexical information in improved recognition of dysarthric speech. Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 133, 474-482. pdf

2012

Borrie, S.A., McAuliffe, M.J., Liss, J.M., Kirk, C., O'Beirne, G.A., & Anderson, T. (2012). Familiarisation conditions and the mechanisms that underlie improved recognition of dysarthric speech. Language and Cognitive Processes, 27, 1039-1055. pdf

Borrie, S.A., McAuliffe, M.J., Liss, J.M., O'Beirne, G.A., & Anderson, T. (2012). A follow-up investigation into the mechanisms that underlie improved recognition of dysarthric speech. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 132, EL102-108. pdf

Borrie, S.A., McAuliffe, M.J., & Liss, J.M. (2012). Perceptual learning of dysarthric speech: A review of experimental studies. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 55, 290-305. pdf

2010

McAuliffe, M.J., Borrie, S.A., Good, P.V., & Hughes, L.E. (2010). Consideration of the listener in the assessment and treatment of dysarthria. ACQuiring Knowledge in Speech, Language, and Hearing, 12, 16-19. pdf

2007

Borrie, S.A., McAuliffe, M.J., Tillard, G., Ormond, T., Anderson, T., & Hornibrook, J. (2007). Effect of the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT®) on articulation in speakers with Parkinson’s disease. New Zealand Journal of Speech-Language Therapy, 62, 29-36. pdf

Our Team

Stephanie Borrie
Lab Director
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education at Utah State University (USU). I have served as an Editor for the discipline's flagship Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. I hold a Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow in the Motor Speech Disorders Lab at Arizona State University. Download CV HERE.
Tyson Barrett
Co-Investigator
Katie Tetzloff
Postdoctoral Associate
Samantha Budge
Ph.D. Student
Annie Barrett
Research Participant Coordinator
Emma Streiff
Lead Research Assistant
Kathryn Wolff
Graduate Research Assistant
Jessica Brown
Graduate Research Assistant
Taylia Norris
Graduate Research Assistant
Amber Abrams
Graduate Research Assistant
Mariah Harris
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Matina Kehl
Undergraduate Research Assistant

Latest news

Participate

We are always looking for people for neurogenic speech disorders to participate in our research. If you live in the Logan area and have a speech disorder from any type of brain injury or disease then we welcome your participation.
If you're interested or have any questions please send an email to:
stephanie.borrie@usu.edu