A longitudinal study of neural network development in children who stutter

在我们对口吃的神经生物学和机械学基础的理解上，仍然存在显著的差距。 越来越多的证据表明，基底节-丘脑皮质(BGTC)和小脑(CE)可能起作用 网络口吃的持久性和恢复。到目前为止，很少有人试图研究BGTC是如何 CE网络的结构和功能与言语和语言的内在时序行为差异有关 非语言手势，以及这些过程如何与口吃的持久性和恢复联系在一起。长期目标 是利用并显著扩展我们目前对儿童口吃的大规模调查，以更全面地 描述基于神经网络的大脑机制，它是发展性口吃的基础。整体而言 本应用程序的目的是检查BG和CE网络在以下儿童和青少年中的连通性 与听觉、运动和感觉运动计时有关的口吃。中心假说是缺乏内在的时间 能力是持续卡顿的基础，这反映在BGTC和CE网络连接模式中。这个 拟议项目的基本原理是，更好地了解皮质-大脑皮质的成熟模式- 支持时间处理的皮质下网络在口吃儿童中不同，他们应该会导致更清晰的 说明口吃持续和恢复的潜在机制。我们计划测试我们的中央 假设，并因此通过追求以下具体目标来实现我们对该项目的总体目标： 1.研究BGTC和CE网络中大脑功能和结构连接的详细差异 与口吃持续和恢复有关；2.考察在节奏知觉上的表现差异 和生产任务，因为它们涉及口吃的持久性和恢复；3.建立全面的、 青春期前的发育数据集，阐明了BG和CE网络连接和多因素 与口吃持续和恢复相关的影响。在目标1下，我们将应用先进的功能磁共振成像和 多部位发育神经成像联盟(即ABCD)用于比较的DTI采集方案 儿童和青少年BGTC和CE网络功能和结构连接性的变化 口吃。在目标2中，我们将研究皮质-皮质下网络连接与性能之间的联系 时间处理任务会消耗固有的计时能力。在目标3下，我们将显著扩大我们的 儿童口吃进入青春期研究不足和动态期的调查 ABCD财团提供的大型发展数据集。这种方法是创新的，因为它将是 首先，提供与异常的时间处理功能相关的皮质下连接的详细描述 口吃。这项拟议的研究意义重大，因为它将导致对特质与 代偿性神经网络发育与口吃的持续和恢复有关。最终， 这种知识有可能为开发更好的预后工具和干预措施提供信息 童年时口吃。

Significant gaps remain in our understanding of the neurobiological, mechanistic bases of stuttering. Accumulating evidence points to the possible role of basal ganglia-thalamocortical (BGTC) and cerebellar (CE) networks in stuttering persistence and recovery. To date there have been few attempts to examine how BGTC and CE network structure and function relate to behavioral differences in intrinsic timing of speech and nonspeech gestures, and how these processes link to stuttering persistence and recovery. The long-term goal is to leverage and significantly expand our current large-scale investigation of childhood stuttering to more fully characterize the neural network-based brain mechanisms that underlie developmental stuttering. The overall objective of this application is to examine connectivity of BG and CE networks in children and adolescents who stutter relevant to auditory, motor, and sensorimotor timing. The central hypothesis is that deficient intrinsic timing ability underlies persistent stuttering, which is reflected in BGTC and CE network connectivity patterns. The rationale for the proposed project is that a better understanding of how maturational patterns of cortical- subcortical networks supporting temporal processing differ in children who stutter should lead to a clearer account of the mechanisms underlying persistence and recovery of stuttering. We plan to test our central hypothesis and, thereby, accomplish our overall objective for this project by pursuing the following specific aims: 1. Examine detailed brain functional and structural connectivity differences along the BGTC and CE networks associated with stuttering persistence and recovery; 2. Examine performance differences on rhythm perception and production tasks as they relate to stuttering persistence and recovery; 3. Establish a comprehensive, developmental dataset up to adolescence that elucidates BG and CE network connectivity and multifactorial influences associated with stuttering persistence and recovery. Under aim 1, we will apply advanced fMRI and DTI acquisition protocols used by a multi-site developmental neuroimaging consortium (i.e., ABCD) to compare functional and structural connectivity changes in the BGTC and CE networks in children and adolescents who stutter. Under aim 2, we will examine the links between cortical-subcortical network connectivity and performance on temporal processing tasks that tax intrinsic timing abilities. Under aim 3, we will significantly expand our investigations of childhood stuttering into the understudied and dynamic period of adolescence by leveraging a large developmental dataset through the ABCD consortium. This approach is innovative, because it will be the first to provide a detailed account of subcortical connectivities relevant to aberrant temporal processing function in stuttering. The proposed research is significant, because it will lead to mechanistic insights into trait versus compensatory neural network development associated with persistence and recovery of stuttering. Ultimately, such knowledge has the potential to inform the development of better prognostic tools and interventions for stuttering during childhood.