Research published in the journal Brain examines two different types of stuttering
,
While the two types are traditionally considered separate, the study revealed that "in addition to similarities at the behavioral level, there are also similarities at the neural level".
"Stuttering affects about 1 percent of adults and can result in significant communication problems and social anxiety, yet the cause of stuttering is still unknown," said lead author Katherine Theis, an associate professor at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
The professor said that stuttering is a developmental disorder, but it can also be caused by focal brain damage after stroke or other neurologic conditions.
For the study, the team used two datasets and lesion network mapping to test whether lesions cause stuttering in a common brain network. A third dataset was also used to test whether this lesion-based network was relevant to developmental stuttering.
Analyzing each dataset, the team discovered a common stuttering network
, which is responsible for lip and facial movements and the timing and sequence of speaking.
They also identified two additional areas of interest for speech imaging and stuttering research.
,
"These are small areas of the brain
, This implicates a plausible network for stuttering," he said, adding that the finding is relevant to treatment.
,
While the two types are traditionally considered separate, the study revealed that "in addition to similarities at the behavioral level, there are also similarities at the neural level".
"Stuttering affects about 1 percent of adults and can result in significant communication problems and social anxiety, yet the cause of stuttering is still unknown," said lead author Katherine Theis, an associate professor at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
The professor said that stuttering is a developmental disorder, but it can also be caused by focal brain damage after stroke or other neurologic conditions.
For the study, the team used two datasets and lesion network mapping to test whether lesions cause stuttering in a common brain network. A third dataset was also used to test whether this lesion-based network was relevant to developmental stuttering.
Analyzing each dataset, the team discovered a common stuttering network
, which is responsible for lip and facial movements and the timing and sequence of speaking.
They also identified two additional areas of interest for speech imaging and stuttering research.
,
"These are small areas of the brain
, This implicates a plausible network for stuttering," he said, adding that the finding is relevant to treatment.
