Decreased Stuttering while Walking: Speech and fMRI Findings

Abstract

We present an adult case with severe persistent developmental stuttering (PDS) that improved dramatically with simultaneous lower limb movements (LMs). During speaking with simultaneous lower limb movement (SLM), her stuttering severity was considerably reduced. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated the neural basis of speech fluency during speaking with and without simultaneous LM. Bilateral (predominantly right) peri-rolandic cortices, supplementary motor areas (SMA), right fusiform gyrus (FFG), and left frontal gyrus were activated in the SLM compared to the ‘speaking only' (S) and LM. There might be a subtype of PDS that benefits from rhythmic LMs to improve the speech fluency. Locomotor and respiratory coupling might temporarily induce cortical timing networks and, also induce activation, predominantly in the right hemisphere with a potential pacemaker effect. Further investigation in larger groups is required to elucidate whether rhythmic simultaneous LMs improve stuttering.

Keywords

• functional magnetic resonance imaging
• lower limb movement
• motor movement
• speech fluency
• simultaneous movement
• stuttering