Understanding how attention affects adults who stutter
Official title: Information processing biases in adults who stutter: Behavioral and eye-tracking indices of threat-related attention allocation
Funded at University of Memphis · NIH-10873257 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how adults who stutter pay attention to scary or stressful situations, using special tools to see where they focus their eyes, with the hope of finding new ways to help them feel less anxious.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Memphis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $180,720 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DC020557-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10873257 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who experience stuttering and related anxiety issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not stutter or do not experience anxiety related to their speech may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how adults who stutter process information, particularly focusing on their attention towards threatening situations. By using behavioral assessments and eye-tracking technology, the study aims to identify patterns in attention allocation that may contribute to anxiety and emotional responses related to stuttering. The goal is to uncover the underlying mechanisms that drive these responses, which could lead to better treatment strategies for individuals who stutter.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapeutic approaches for managing anxiety and emotional challenges faced by individuals who stutter.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that attention biases are significant in anxiety disorders, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights for stuttering as well.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Memphis
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eichorn, Naomi — University of Memphis
- Study coordinator: Eichorn, Naomi
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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.