How brain networks develop in children who stutter
A longitudinal study of neural network development in children who stutter
This project follows children and teens who stutter to learn how their brain communication patterns and timing skills relate to whether stuttering improves or persists.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262297 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will follow you over time with repeated brain imaging and speech and nonspeech timing tests to track changes during childhood and adolescence. The team will focus on connections involving the basal ganglia-thalamocortical and cerebellar networks and measure how those networks link to timing of speech movements. They will combine behavioral measures of intrinsic timing with MRI-based connectivity analyses to see which brain patterns are tied to persistent stuttering or recovery. The study aims to map developmental brain changes that could point to why some children stop stuttering while others continue.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents who currently stutter (roughly ages 0–20) who can complete MRI scans and behavioral testing are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Adults over age 20, people without stuttering, or individuals who cannot undergo MRI (for example due to metal implants or severe claustrophobia) are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could help identify brain-based markers that predict who will recover and point to targets for better, more personalized therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have suggested basal ganglia and cerebellar differences in stuttering, but large-scale, long-term longitudinal work like this is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chang, Soo-Eun — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Chang, Soo-Eun
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.