Tract profiles of the cerebellar peduncles in children who stutter.

Cerebellar-cortical loops comprise critical neural circuitry that supports self-initiated movements and motor adjustments in response to perceived errors, functions that are affected in stuttering. It is unknown whether structural aspects of cerebellar circuitry are affected in stuttering, particularly in children close to symptom onset. Here we examined white matter diffusivity characteristics of the three cerebellar peduncles (CPs) based on diffusion MRI (dMRI) data collected from 41 children who stutter (CWS) and 42 controls in the 3-11 years range. We hypothesized that CWS would exhibit decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right CPs given the contralateral connectivity of the cerebellar-cortical loops and past reports of structural differences in left cortical areas in stuttering speakers. Automatic Fiber Quantification (AFQ) was used to track and segment cerebellar white matter pathways and to extract diffusivity measures. We found significant group differences for FA in the right inferior CP (ICP) only: controls showed significantly higher FA in the right ventral ICP compared to CWS, controlling for age, sex, and verbal IQ. Furthermore, FA of right ICP was negatively correlated with stuttering frequency in CWS. These results suggest an early developmental difference in the right ICP for CWS compared to age-matched peers, which may indicate an alteration in error processing, a function previously linked to the ICP. Lower FA here may impact error monitoring and sensory input processing to guide motor corrections. Further longitudinal investigations in children may provide additional insights into how CP development links to stuttering persistence and recovery.

Developmental Factors That Predict Head Movement During Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in 3-7-Year-Old Stuttering and Non-stuttering Children.

Early childhood marks a period of dynamic neurocognitive development. Preschool-age coincides with the onset of many childhood disorders and is a developmental period that is frequently studied to determine markers of neurodevelopmental disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used to explore typical brain development and the neural bases of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, acquiring high-quality MRI data in young children is challenging. The enclosed space and loud sounds can trigger unease and cause excessive head movement. A better understanding of potential factors that predict successful MRI acquisition would increase chances of collecting useable data in children with and without neurodevelopmental disorders. We investigated whether age, sex, stuttering status, and childhood temperament as measured using the Child Behavioral Questionnaire, could predict movement extent during resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) in 76 children aged 3-7 years, including 42 children who stutter (CWS). We found that age, sex, and temperament factors could predict motion during rs-fMRI scans. The CWS were not found to differ significantly from controls in temperament or head movement during scanning. Sex and age were significant predictors of movement. However, age was no longer a significant predictor when temperament, specifically effortful control, was considered. Controlling for age, boys with higher effortful control scores moved less during rs-fMRI procedures. Additionally, boys who showed higher negative affectivity showed a trend for greater movement. Considering temperament factors in addition to age and sex may help predict the success of acquiring useable rs-fMRI (and likely general brain MRI) data in young children in MR neuroimaging.

A Preliminary Investigation of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Characteristics in Adults Who Stutter.

Purpose Recent studies have shown that many children who stutter may have elevated characteristics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although childhood ADHD commonly persists into adulthood, it is unclear how many adults who stutter experience aspects of ADHD (e.g., inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity). This study sought to increase understanding of how ADHD characteristics might affect individuals who stutter by evaluating (a) whether elevated ADHD characteristics are common in adults who stutter, (b) whether elevated ADHD characteristics in adults who stutter were significantly associated with greater adverse impact related to stuttering, and (c) whether individual differences in Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT) and Effortful Control influenced this relationship. Method Two hundred fifty-four adults who stutter completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire, the Adult Temperament Questionnaire short form, and the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed via multiple linear regression to determine whether the number of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity characteristics was significantly associated with RNT, Effortful Control, or Adverse Impact related to stuttering. Results Almost one quarter of participants (23.2%; 60/254) self-reported experiencing six or more inattention characteristics, while fewer participants (8.3%; 21/254) self-reported experiencing six or more hyperactivity/impulsivity characteristics. Participants with lower Effortful Control and higher levels of both RNT and Adverse Impact were significantly more likely to self-report experiencing more inattention characteristics. Discussion Many adults who stutter may exhibit previously unaccounted for characteristics of ADHD, especially inattention. Results highlight the value of continued research on the intersectionality of stuttering, ADHD, and attention, and the importance of individualizing therapy to the needs of each unique person who stutters.