title: A review of brain circuitries involved in stuttering.
abstract: Stuttering has been the subject of much research, nevertheless its etiology remains incompletely understood. This article presents a critical review of the literature on stuttering, with particular reference to the role of the basal ganglia (BG). Neuroimaging and lesion studies of developmental and acquired stuttering, as well as pharmacological and genetic studies are discussed. Evidence of structural and functional changes in the BG in those who stutter indicates that this motor speech disorder is due, at least in part, to abnormal BG cues for the initiation and termination of articulatory movements. Studies discussed provide evidence of a dysfunctional hyperdopaminergic state of the thalamocortical pathways underlying speech motor control in stuttering. Evidence that stuttering can improve, worsen or recur following deep brain stimulation for other indications is presented in order to emphasize the role of BG in stuttering. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the pathophysiology of this speech disorder, which is associated with significant social isolation.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine London, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Craig-McQuaide
authors.affiliation: Unit of Functional Neurosurgery, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London London, UK ; Victor Horsley Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery London, UK.
authors.forename: Harith
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akram
authors.affiliation: Unit of Functional Neurosurgery, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London London, UK ; Victor Horsley Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery London, UK.
authors.forename: Ludvic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zrinzo
authors.affiliation: Unit of Functional Neurosurgery, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London London, UK ; Victor Horsley Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery London, UK.
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tripoliti
keywords: basal ganglia; deep brain stimulation; palilalia; speech neural control; stuttering; thalamus