Auditory Prediction and Error Evaluation in the Speech of Individuals Who Stutter

Auditory Prediction and Error Evaluation in the Speech of Individuals Who Stutter

Stuttering negatively impacts communication and reduces the overall quality of life and well-being of individuals who stutter. This study will provide a strong foundation for developing neural and behavioral interventions for stuttering. Participants will be asked to name pictures, read words/sentences silently or aloud, and listen to speech and nonspeech sounds while their speech, muscle, and brain signals are collected. Some participants may also receive brain stimulation while reading and speaking.

Inclusion Criteria:

• being a monolingual, native speaker of American English
• absence of developmental, psychological, neurological, or communication disorders (other than developmental stuttering) as confirmed by a certified research SLP
• normal (age-appropriate) binaural pure-tone hearing threshold (0.5-4k Hz; ≤25 dB HL for younger than 70 years, and ≤35 dB HL for older than 70 years)
• not taking any medications that affect the central nervous system
• absence of safety contra-indication for tDCS, TMS and MRI (for adults)
• scoring at the 20th percentile or higher on standardized speech-language tests (for children)

Exclusion Criteria:

-