The CABB dataset: A multimodal corpus of communicative interactions for behavioural and neural analyses.

We present a dataset of behavioural and fMRI observations acquired in the context of humans involved in multimodal referential communication. The dataset contains audio/video and motion-tracking recordings of face-to-face, task-based communicative interactions in Dutch, as well as behavioural and neural correlates of participants' representations of dialogue referents. Seventy-one pairs of unacquainted participants performed two interleaved interactional tasks in which they described and located 16 novel geometrical objects (i.e., Fribbles) yielding spontaneous interactions of about one hour. We share high-quality video (from three cameras), audio (from head-mounted microphones), and motion-tracking (Kinect) data, as well as speech transcripts of the interactions. Before and after engaging in the face-to-face communicative interactions, participants' individual representations of the 16 Fribbles were estimated. Behaviourally, participants provided a written description (one to three words) for each Fribble and positioned them along 29 independent conceptual dimensions (e.g., rounded, human, audible). Neurally, fMRI signal evoked by each Fribble was measured during a one-back working-memory task. To enable functional hyperalignment across participants, the dataset also includes fMRI measurements obtained during visual presentation of eight animated movies (35 min total). We present analyses for the various types of data demonstrating their quality and consistency with earlier research. Besides high-resolution multimodal interactional data, this dataset includes different correlates of communicative referents, obtained before and after face-to-face dialogue, allowing for novel investigations into the relation between communicative behaviours and the representational space shared by communicators. This unique combination of data can be used for research in neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, and beyond.

The Effects of Word Frequency and Word Probability on Speech Rhythm in Dysarthria.

Purpose In healthy speakers, the more frequent and probable a word is in its context, the shorter the word tends to be. This study investigated whether these probabilistic effects were similarly sized for speakers with dysarthria of different severities. Method Fifty-six speakers of New Zealand English (42 speakers with dysarthria and 14 healthy speakers) were recorded reading the Grandfather Passage. Measurements of word duration, frequency, and transitional word probability were taken. Results As hypothesized, words with a higher frequency and probability tended to be shorter in duration. There was also a significant interaction between word frequency and speech severity. This indicated that the more severe the dysarthria, the smaller the effects of word frequency on speakers' word durations. Transitional word probability also interacted with speech severity, but did not account for significant unique variance in the full model. Conclusions These results suggest that, as the severity of dysarthria increases, the duration of words is less affected by probabilistic variables. These findings may be due to reductions in the control and execution of muscle movement exhibited by speakers with dysarthria.

Physical activity and dietary intake in BMI discordant identical twins.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the latest discovery of obesity-associated genes, the rapid rise in global obesity suggests a major role for environmental factors. This study investigated the influence of environmental factors on physical activity and dietary intake independent of genetic effects. METHODS: Sixteen female monozygotic twins aged 48.8 ± 9.8 years (range 37-70) with a mean BMI discordance of 3.96 ± 2.1 kg/m(2) (range 0.7-8.2) were studied. Physical activity was determined using 7-day accelerometry and dietary intake using 3-day 24-h recalls. RESULTS: Heavier cotwins were generally less physically active (mean activity counts × 1,000 per day ± SD; 505.5 ± 155.1 vs. 579.6 ± 185.4, P = 0.047) and tended to spend 6.1 min/day less in moderate to vigorous physical activity than leaner cotwins (P = 0.09). Energy intake did not significantly differ within pairs. Total fat intake (en%; P = 0.03), specifically monounsaturated fat (P < 0.01) and polyunsaturated fat (P = 0.08), was higher in the heavier cotwins. CONCLUSIONS: After eliminating genetic effects, higher BMI is associated with lower overall and moderate to vigorous physical activity and higher intake of total fat, although the direction of causality cannot be determined. Future identification of the environmental factors responsible for these findings might contribute to developing new strategies in managing obesity.