Neural control of rising and falling tones in Mandarin speakers who stutter

Neural control of rising and falling tones in Mandarin people who stutter (PWS) was examined by comparing with that which occurs in fluent speakers [Howell, Jiang, Peng, and Lu (2012). Neural control of fundamental frequency rise and fall in Mandarin tones. Brain and Language, 121(1), 35–46]. Nine PWS and nine controls were scanned. Functional connectivity analysis showed that the connections between the insula and LMC and between the LMC and the putamen differed significantly between PWS and fluent speakers during both rising and falling tones. The connection between the insula and the brainstem differed between PWS and fluent speakers only during the falling tone. These results indicated the neural control for the rising tone and the falling tone are affected in PWS. Moreover, whilst both rising and falling tones were affected in PWS, falling-tone control appeared to be affected more.

► Neural mechanisms for tone control were affected in Mandarin speakers who stutter.
► Speech-motor control problems in people who stutter were confirmed.
► The findings raise a question whether the mechanisms are language-universal or specific.