Theta Modulated Neural Phase Coherence Facilitates Speech Fluency in Adults Who Stutter

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Ranit Sengupta²  J. Scott Yaruss³  Vincent L. Gracco⁴  Sazzad M. Nasir⁵  Torrey M. Loucks⁶  Kristin Pelczarski⁷ 

[1] Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada;Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States;Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States;Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States;Indiana Academy, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, United States;Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada;School of Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States;

关键词: neural communication;    speech;    phase coherence;    motor control;    stuttering;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnhum.2019.00394

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Adults who stutter (AWS) display altered patterns of neural phase coherence within the speech motor system preceding disfluencies. These altered patterns may distinguish fluent speech episodes from disfluent ones. Phase coherence is relevant to the study of stuttering because it reflects neural communication within brain networks. In this follow-up study, the oscillatory cortical dynamics preceding fluent speech in AWS and adults who do not stutter (AWNS) were examined during a single-word delayed reading task using electroencephalographic (EEG) techniques. Compared to AWNS, fluent speech preparation in AWS was characterized by a decrease in theta-gamma phase coherence and a corresponding increase in theta-beta coherence level. Higher spectral powers in the beta and gamma bands were also observed preceding fluent utterances by AWS. Overall, there was altered neural communication during speech planning in AWS that provides novel evidence for atypical allocation of feedforward control by AWS even before fluent utterances.

【 授权许可】

Unknown