Pool K D, Devous M D, Freeman F J, Watson B C, Finitzo T
Neuroscience Research Center, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
Arch Neurol. 1991 May;48(5):509-12. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1991.00530170069022.
Stuttering is a poorly understood communication disorder with a 1% global prevalence. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in a neurogenic origin for the disorder, although no research has established clear neurological differences between "developmental" (stuttering onset in childhood) stutterers and nonstutterers. We have used xenon 133 single-photon emission computed tomography to study regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in 20 stutterers. Analysis revealed global, absolute flow reductions. Relative flow asymmetries (left less than right) were identified in three hemispheric regions: anterior cingulate and superior and middle temporal gyri. Milder changes were found in the left inferior frontal gyrus. Stutterers had rCBF values below median for either anterior cingulate or middle temporal gyri. With one exception, severe stutterers had rCBF values below median for the anterior cingulate gyrus. All stutterers with rCBF values above median in the cingulate gyrus had rCBF values below median in the middle temporal gyrus, and severity of their disorder was either mild or moderate. Our findings suggest that stuttering is a neurogenic disorder involving recognized cortical regions of speech-motor control.
口吃是一种了解甚少的交流障碍，全球患病率为1%。最近，人们对该障碍的神经源性起源重新产生了兴趣，尽管尚无研究明确证实“发育性”（儿童期起病）口吃者与非口吃者之间存在明显的神经学差异。我们使用氙133单光子发射计算机断层扫描技术研究了20名口吃者的局部脑血流量（rCBF）。分析显示整体绝对血流量减少。在三个脑区发现了相对血流不对称（左侧小于右侧）：前扣带回以及颞上回和颞中回。在左侧额下回发现了较轻的变化。口吃者前扣带回或颞中回的rCBF值低于中位数。除一例例外，重度口吃者前扣带回的rCBF值低于中位数。扣带回rCBF值高于中位数的所有口吃者，其颞中回的rCBF值均低于中位数，且其障碍严重程度为轻度或中度。我们的研究结果表明，口吃是一种涉及公认的言语运动控制皮质区域的神经源性障碍。
