RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Neural anomaly and reorganization in speakers who stutter
JF Neurology
JO Neurology
FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SP 625
OP 632
DO 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31826356d2
VO 79
IS 7
A1 Chunming Lu
A1 Chuansheng Chen
A1 Danling Peng
A1 Wenping You
A1 Xuhui Zhang
A1 Guosheng Ding
A1 Xiaoxiang Deng
A1 Qian Yan
A1 Peter Howell
YR 2012
UL http://n.neurology.org/content/79/7/625.abstract
AB Objectives: The aim of the current study was to differentiate between neural activity that represents neural anomalies that are responsible for persistent developmental stuttering (PDS) from the activity that is a result of compensating for stuttering. This was done by investigating alterations to the intrinsic functional architecture of speech-language processes of patients with PDS before and after a short-term intervention. Methods: The resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) and cortical thickness were examined before and after the intervention. The structural data were used to validate the functional results. Fifteen stuttering patients who received intervention (PDS+), 13 stuttering patients who did not receive intervention (PDS−), and 13 fluent controls participated. Results: Before the intervention, both groups of PDS patients showed significant RSFC and cortical thickness reductions in the left pars-opercularis (PO) and RSFC increases in the cerebellum, as compared to fluent controls. The intervention was effective in reducing stuttering in PDS+ patients and lowering their RSFC in the cerebellum to the level of fluent controls. The intervention effect was specific to the PDS+ group (it was not evident in the PDS− group). The intervention did not change RSFC and cortical thickness in the left PO, which remained at its preintervention level. Conclusions: The results suggest that the left PO is a locus where the intrinsic functional architecture of speech-language processes is altered in PDS patients, suggesting an etiologic role of this region in PDS. The cerebellum showed intervention-induced neural reorganization, suggesting a compensatory response when stuttering occurs. AFNI=Analysis of Functional NeuroImages; BA=Brodmann area; EPI=echoplanar image; IC=independent component; ICA=independent component analysis; IFC=inferior frontal cortex; MFG=middle frontal gyrus; OASES=Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering; PDS=persistent developmental stuttering; PDS−=stuttering patients who did not receive intervention; PDS+=stuttering patients who received intervention; PO=pars-opercularis; ROI=region of interest; RSFC=resting-state functional connectivity; SMA=supplementary motor area; SSI-3=Stuttering Severity Instrument version III; TE=echo time; TR=repetition time