Actively Recruiting
Sequencing and Initiation in Speech Production: Investigating Speech Sequencing in Neurotypical Speakers, Persons Who Stutter, and Persons With Primary Progressive Aphasia
Led by Boston University Charles River Campus · Updated on 2026-05-04
2
Participants Needed
3
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
B
Boston University Charles River Campus
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are studying brain mechanisms involved in speech motor planning to better understand developmental stuttering and other neurogenic speech disorders like primary progressive aphasia. The study aims to explore how speech sequencing and initiation differ between people who stutter, those with typical speech development, and those with neurodegenerative speech conditions. This research involves adults and children to provide insights that may guide new therapies and technologies in the future. Participants will take part in various speech training sessions where they practice producing nonsense words or novel multisyllabic nonwords. Some adults with typical speech receive non-invasive brain stimulation (anodal or sham transcranial direct current stimulation) during training. Training involves multiple sessions over two days, followed by functional MRI scans to observe brain activity related to learned speech sequences. Different groups include adults who stutter, children who stutter, adults with primary progressive aphasia, and neurotypical individuals. During the study, participants engage in speech production tasks, undergo hearing and vision screenings, and complete behavioral tests. Researchers measure changes in speech production accuracy, reaction time, utterance duration, percentage of words stuttered, and brain activity using fMRI. Additional assessments include working memory tests and cortical brain measurements. The study includes training sessions, brain imaging, and behavioral evaluations conducted over a few days to monitor speech learning and brain function.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Investigating Speech Sequencing in Neurotypical Speakers and Persons With Disordered Speech
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Healthy individuals with no history of neurological, speech, or hearing disorders (other than stuttering in adults who stutter studies)
- Native speakers of American English with limited exposure to a second language
- Adult participants must pass a pure-tone hearing screening at 25dB at 500, 1k, 2k, and 4kHz
- Children must pass a hearing screening at 20dB at 500, 1k, 2k, and 4kHz
- Participants reading orthographic stimuli must have normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- Children will complete speech, language, hearing, and cognitive tests ensuring normal performance except stuttering for children who stutter
- Persons who stutter must be formally evaluated for stuttering severity and have no other speech or language disorders
- Participants with primary progressive aphasia must have been diagnosed by specialists and have mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia with a recent clinical assessment and brain scan
You will not qualify if you...
- Contraindications for tDCS or MRI such as metallic implants in the head, electrically sensitive implanted devices, history of seizures, significant scalp lesions, severe claustrophobia, or pregnancy
- Participants performing more than 2 standard deviations below the norm on a nonword repetition test
- Children under 6 or over 8 years old
- Children with neurological disorders other than stuttering or severe stuttering outside defined criteria
- Participants with primary progressive aphasia taking medications expected to affect speech or language
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 2 days
Participants undergo multiple speech training sessions to learn novel nonsense words formed by non-native phoneme combinations or multisyllabic nonwords. Some participants receive real or sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to specific brain areas during these training sessions.
6 to 8 training sessions over 2 days
Duration - 1 day
Following training, some participants undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity related to producing learned and unfamiliar speech stimuli.
1 fMRI session (in-person)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 3 locations
1
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02129
Actively Recruiting
2
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
Actively Recruiting
3
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
F
Frank H Guenther, PhD
B
Barbara Holland
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
7
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