Grey matter volume differences in the left caudate nucleus of people who stutter

Authors: Sowman, P.F., Ryan, M., Johnson, B.W., Savage, G., Crain, S., Harrison, E., Martin, E. and Burianová, H.

Journal: Brain and Language

Volume: 164

Pages: 9-15

eISSN: 1090-2155

ISSN: 0093-934X

DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2016.08.009

Abstract:

The cause of stuttering has many theoretical explanations. A number of research groups have suggested changes in the volume and/or function of the striatum as a causal agent. Two recent studies in children and one in adults who stutter (AWS) report differences in striatal volume compared that seen in controls; however, the laterality and nature of this anatomical volume difference is not consistent across studies. The current study investigated whether a reduction in striatal grey matter volume, comparable to that seen in children who stutter (CWS), would be found in AWS. Such a finding would support claims that an anatomical striatal anomaly plays a causal role in stuttering. We used voxel-based morphometry to examine the structure of the striatum in a group of AWS and compared it to that in a group of matched adult control subjects. Results showed a statistically significant group difference for the left caudate nucleus, with smaller mean volume in the group of AWS. The caudate nucleus, one of three main structures within the striatum, is thought to be critical for the planning and modulation of movement sequencing. The difference in striatal volume found here aligns with theoretical accounts of stuttering, which suggest it is a motor control disorder that arises from deficient articulatory movement selection and sequencing. Whilst the current study provides further evidence of a striatal volume difference in stuttering at the group level compared to controls, the significant overlap between AWS and controls suggests this difference is unlikely to be diagnostic of stuttering.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34386/

Source: Scopus

Grey matter volume differences in the left caudate nucleus of people who stutter.

Authors: Sowman, P.F., Ryan, M., Johnson, B.W., Savage, G., Crain, S., Harrison, E., Martin, E. and Burianová, H.

Journal: Brain Lang

Volume: 164

Pages: 9-15

eISSN: 1090-2155

DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2016.08.009

Abstract:

The cause of stuttering has many theoretical explanations. A number of research groups have suggested changes in the volume and/or function of the striatum as a causal agent. Two recent studies in children and one in adults who stutter (AWS) report differences in striatal volume compared that seen in controls; however, the laterality and nature of this anatomical volume difference is not consistent across studies. The current study investigated whether a reduction in striatal grey matter volume, comparable to that seen in children who stutter (CWS), would be found in AWS. Such a finding would support claims that an anatomical striatal anomaly plays a causal role in stuttering. We used voxel-based morphometry to examine the structure of the striatum in a group of AWS and compared it to that in a group of matched adult control subjects. Results showed a statistically significant group difference for the left caudate nucleus, with smaller mean volume in the group of AWS. The caudate nucleus, one of three main structures within the striatum, is thought to be critical for the planning and modulation of movement sequencing. The difference in striatal volume found here aligns with theoretical accounts of stuttering, which suggest it is a motor control disorder that arises from deficient articulatory movement selection and sequencing. Whilst the current study provides further evidence of a striatal volume difference in stuttering at the group level compared to controls, the significant overlap between AWS and controls suggests this difference is unlikely to be diagnostic of stuttering.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34386/

Source: PubMed

Grey matter volume differences in the left caudate nucleus of people who stutter

Authors: Sowman, P.F., Ryan, M., Johnson, B.W., Savage, G., Crain, S., Harrison, E., Martin, E. and Burianova, H.

Journal: BRAIN AND LANGUAGE

Volume: 164

Pages: 9-15

eISSN: 1090-2155

ISSN: 0093-934X

DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2016.08.009

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34386/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Grey matter volume differences in the left caudate nucleus of people who stutter.

Authors: Sowman, P.F., Ryan, M., Johnson, B.W., Savage, G., Crain, S., Harrison, E., Martin, E. and Burianová, H.

Journal: Brain and language

Volume: 164

Pages: 9-15

eISSN: 1090-2155

ISSN: 0093-934X

DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2016.08.009

Abstract:

The cause of stuttering has many theoretical explanations. A number of research groups have suggested changes in the volume and/or function of the striatum as a causal agent. Two recent studies in children and one in adults who stutter (AWS) report differences in striatal volume compared that seen in controls; however, the laterality and nature of this anatomical volume difference is not consistent across studies. The current study investigated whether a reduction in striatal grey matter volume, comparable to that seen in children who stutter (CWS), would be found in AWS. Such a finding would support claims that an anatomical striatal anomaly plays a causal role in stuttering. We used voxel-based morphometry to examine the structure of the striatum in a group of AWS and compared it to that in a group of matched adult control subjects. Results showed a statistically significant group difference for the left caudate nucleus, with smaller mean volume in the group of AWS. The caudate nucleus, one of three main structures within the striatum, is thought to be critical for the planning and modulation of movement sequencing. The difference in striatal volume found here aligns with theoretical accounts of stuttering, which suggest it is a motor control disorder that arises from deficient articulatory movement selection and sequencing. Whilst the current study provides further evidence of a striatal volume difference in stuttering at the group level compared to controls, the significant overlap between AWS and controls suggests this difference is unlikely to be diagnostic of stuttering.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34386/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

Grey matter volume differences in the left caudate nucleus of people who stutter.

Authors: Sowman, P.F., Ryan, M., Johnson, B.W., Savage, G., Crain, S., Harrison, E., Martin, E. and Burianová, H.

Journal: Brain and Language

Volume: 164

Pages: 9-15

ISSN: 0093-934X

Abstract:

The cause of stuttering has many theoretical explanations. A number of research groups have suggested changes in the volume and/or function of the striatum as a causal agent. Two recent studies in children and one in adults who stutter (AWS) report differences in striatal volume compared that seen in controls; however, the laterality and nature of this anatomical volume difference is not consistent across studies. The current study investigated whether a reduction in striatal grey matter volume, comparable to that seen in children who stutter (CWS), would be found in AWS. Such a finding would support claims that an anatomical striatal anomaly plays a causal role in stuttering. We used voxel-based morphometry to examine the structure of the striatum in a group of AWS and compared it to that in a group of matched adult control subjects. Results showed a statistically significant group difference for the left caudate nucleus, with smaller mean volume in the group of AWS. The caudate nucleus, one of three main structures within the striatum, is thought to be critical for the planning and modulation of movement sequencing. The difference in striatal volume found here aligns with theoretical accounts of stuttering, which suggest it is a motor control disorder that arises from deficient articulatory movement selection and sequencing. Whilst the current study provides further evidence of a striatal volume difference in stuttering at the group level compared to controls, the significant overlap between AWS and controls suggests this difference is unlikely to be diagnostic of stuttering.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34386/

Source: BURO EPrints