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How our brains' beta waves predict stuttering

A team of researchers from New York University recruited 30 stutterers and monitored their brain activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG) while they spoke. The study found increased beta waves associated with cues that preceded stuttered words, suggesting a predictive link between brain activity and stuttering.

SourceNew York University·JournalNeurobiology of Language·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2024

NIH study in mice identifies type of brain cell involved in stuttering

A recent NIH study using a mouse model of stuttering identified the loss of astrocytes as a critical brain cell type involved in the disorder. The research found that this loss was most prominent in the corpus callosum, a part of the brain that bridges the two hemispheres. This discovery could lead to novel interventions for stuttering...

SourceNIH/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Stuttering linked to rhythm perception deficiency

Researchers at Michigan State University found that children who stutter have difficulty perceiving a beat in music-like rhythms, which may account for their halting speech patterns. This study has implications for treating stuttering and suggests that improving beat perception in children could lead to improved fluency in speech.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalBrain and Language·DateMay 19, 2015

Brain development differs in children who stutter

A study by University of Alberta researcher Deryk Beal found that children who stutter have less grey matter in brain regions responsible for speech production. This discovery highlights the importance of early treatment approaches like those pioneered by the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalCortex·DateOct 10, 2013

Do songbirds hold key to stuttering?

Researchers at Michigan State University investigate the brain and behavior of zebra finches to understand the relationship between rhythm and stuttering. The study aims to identify which parts of the brain are responsible for processing rhythm, with potential implications for treating stuttering in children.

Giving a voice to kids with Down syndrome

A new case study by the University of Alberta's ISTAR Institute shows that fluency shaping can significantly improve a child's speech in individuals with Down syndrome who stutter. Four months of treatment led to a 98.6% improvement in Sarah's fluency, enabling her to function better socially and academically.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalJournal of Fluency Disorders·DateFeb 25, 2013

Surprising pathway implicated in stuttering

A new study found that mutations in a gene called NAGPA, which affects lysosomal function, are associated with persistent stuttering. The research provides evidence that impairment in cellular recycling centers may play a role in causing some people to stutter.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateNov 22, 2011

Is stuttering in our DNA?

A recent study has found strong evidence for a genetic component in stuttering, with the likelihood of spontaneous recovery linked to genetic factors. Researchers hope that identifying specific genes underlying stuttering will lead to improved clinical decisions and treatments.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateNov 6, 2008

Bilingual children more likely to stutter

Research published in Archives of Disease in Childhood suggests that bilingual children are significantly more likely to stutter and find it harder to lose their impediment than monolingual children. Children who exclusively spoke one language before the age of 5 had a higher recovery rate from stuttering by the age of 12.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood·DateSep 8, 2008

Mechanism behind stuttering revealed

A study has identified a significant difference in brain tissue structure between individuals with persistent developmental stuttering and those with normal speech. The abnormality may develop during early language and speech acquisition, explaining how disturbed signal transmission affects speech production.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateAug 1, 2002

Intensive Stuttering Program Aims At Coping Not Cure

The program, now in its second year, provides four weeks of intensive speech therapy for adults aged 20-50. Participants learn skills and behaviors to overcome stuttering, such as awareness, acceptance, and preparatory techniques like rehearsal and prevoicing. The goal is to improve communication flow and reduce stuttering interruptions.