Atypical brain torque in boys with developmental stuttering

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Speech and Language Sciences

Background:

• Brain torque, a consistent counterclockwise asymmetry (larger right prefrontal and left parietal-occipital lobes), is a known neuroanatomical feature.
• Atypical cerebral laterality, including reduced or reversed lobar asymmetries, has been observed in adults who stutter.
• These findings suggest a potential link between brain asymmetry and developmental stuttering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether atypical brain torque is more prevalent in children who stutter compared to neurotypical children.
• To explore the relationship between brain morphology and developmental stuttering in young males.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based morphological measurements were utilized.
• The study included two groups of boys aged 8-13: 14 who stutter and 14 controls.
• Cerebral laterality and brain torque configurations were analyzed in both groups.

Main Results:

• Control participants exhibited typical brain torque configurations.
• Boys who stutter demonstrated atypical brain torque patterns.
• Significant differences in prefrontal and parietal-occipital lobe asymmetries were observed between the stuttering and control groups.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the hypothesis that developmental stuttering is associated with atypical brain torque.
• Atypical prefrontal and parietal-occipital lobe asymmetries are potential neurobiological markers in children who stutter.
• This research contributes to understanding the neuroanatomy underlying stuttering in early development.