title: CNV amplitude as a neural correlate for stuttering frequency: A case report of acquired stuttering.
abstract: A neural hallmark of developmental stuttering is abnormal articulatory programming. One of the neurophysiological substrates of articulatory preparation is the contingent negative variation (CNV). Unfortunately, CNV tasks are rarely performed in persons who stutter and mainly focus on the effect of task variation rather than on interindividual variation in stutter related variables. However, variations in motor programming seem to be related to variation in stuttering frequency. The current study presents a case report of acquired stuttering following stroke and stroke related surgery in the left superior temporal gyrus. A speech related CNV task was administered at four points in time with differences in stuttering severity and frequency. Unexpectedly, CNV amplitudes at electrode sites approximating bilateral motor and left inferior frontal gyrus appeared to be inversely proportional to stuttering frequency. The higher the stuttering frequency, the lower the activity for articulatory preparation. Thus, the amount of disturbance in motor programming seems to determine stuttering frequency. At right frontal electrodes, a relative increase in CNV amplitude was seen at the test session with most severe stuttering. Right frontal overactivation is cautiously suggested to be a compensation strategy. In conclusion, late CNV amplitude elicited by a relatively simple speech task seems to be able to provide an objective, neural correlate of stuttering frequency. The present case report supports the hypothesis that motor preparation has an important role in stuttering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Neurology, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 1K12A, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: sarah.vanhoutte@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanhoutte
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 2P1, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Veiga de Almeida University, Rua Ibituruna, 108, Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: john.vanborsel@ugent.be.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Borsel
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 2P1, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: marjan.cosyns@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosyns
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185,1K12A, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of physical therapy and motor rehabilitation, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: katja.batens@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Batens
authors.affiliation: MEDISIP, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University - iMINDS Medical IT Department, Ghent University Hospital De Pintelaan 185, 5-Blok B, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: pieter.vanmierlo@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Mierlo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185,1K12A, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: dimitri.hemelsoet@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hemelsoet
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 4K12E, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Surgery, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 4K12E, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: dirk.vanroost@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Roost
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 2P1, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Faculty of Education, Health and Social Work, University College Ghent, Keramiekstraat 80, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: paul.corthals@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corthals
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 2P1, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185,1K12A, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: miet.deletter@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Miet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Letter
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Neurology, Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 1K12A, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185,1K12A, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: patrick.santens@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003265:Contingent Negative Variation / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D013342:Stuttering / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: %SS; Contingent negative variation; Motor preparation; Stuttering; Stuttering severity