For speech perception, the theory asserts that the objects of perception are actual vocal tract movements, or gestures, and not abstract phonemes or (as in the Motor Theory) events that are causally antecedent to these movements, i.e. intended gestures.
For speech perception, the theory claims that the objects of perception are actual vocal tract movements, or gestures, rather than abstract phonemes or (as per the Motor Theory) events that precede these movements causally, i.e., intended gestures.