Clinical Research Directory

Organization and Development of Motor Cortical Circuits for Speech Production in Stuttering

The overall objective of this study is to examine inter effector areas (IEAs) activity and functional connectivity during continuous speech production in stuttering adults.

Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation to Explore Potential Treatments to Reduce Speech Errors in Adults Who Stutter

The goal of this study is to find out whether a type of noninvasive brain stimulation can help reduce speech errors, such as repetitions, blocks, and prolongations, in people who stutter. This pilot study will help researchers design future treatments to see if targeting certain brain areas can improve speech fluency. The study will look at how people speak and behave during both speaking and non-speaking tasks before and after the brain stimulation. Participants will complete an online survey about 24 hours before coming to the clinic. The clinic visit will last about 3 hours and will include three phases. All parts of the study will be audio-recorded. 1. Pre-Testing: Participants will first complete a stuttering evaluation to determine whether they are typical speakers or have a mild, moderate, or severe stutter. Then, they will do several speaking and non-speaking tasks. 2. Brain Stimulation: Participants will receive a session of targeted noninvasive brain stimulation (HD-tDCS). 3. Post-Testing: After the brain stimulation, participants will repeat the same evaluation and tasks they completed during pre-testing. Brain stimulation description: HD-tDCS is a non-invasive technique that requires the placement of several sensors (metal electrodes) on a special cap and saline gel on your head. Very low levels of constant electrical current are delivered to specifically targeted areas of the brain via these electrodes. You may experience a slight feeling of dizziness when starting the stimulation. This occurs in a small number of subjects. This takes only a few seconds and does not affect balance after the stimulation has been completed. Several research centers have previously investigated the use of this device on healthy subjects and have found the device to be safe with no direct effect on the person's well-being. Following stimulation, participants will have the opportunity to rinse out residual gel from hair and scalp.

Effects of Psilocybin on Speech Fluency, Struggle, and Brain Activity in People Who Stutter

This Phase 2a clinical trial is an open-label, single-group, within-subjects pilot study designed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of psilocybin as a therapeutic intervention for adults with developmental stuttering. This pilot study will assess whether further research to explore the potential benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy for improving clinical outcomes in individuals who stutter, is warranted. The aims of this study include: * Aim 1: Assess the safety and feasibility of psilocybin as a therapeutic agent for stuttering. * Aim 2: Evaluate the effects of psilocybin on objective and subjective measures of stuttering severity, struggle, and well-being. * Aim 3: Explore the therapeutic neural mechanisms of psilocybin in stuttering.

Stuttering and Neuromodulation

The purpose of this study is to collect preliminary data on the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with traditional behavioral techniques to reduce stuttering severity and negative impact in adults who stutter. The study also aims to explore neuroplastic changes (i.e., regional activation and functional connectivity) resulting from combined tDCS + speech therapy.

Network Connectivity and Temporal Processing in Adolescents Who Stutter

The specific purpose of this clinical trial is to compare performance on rhythm perception and production tasks between children who stutter and children who do not stutter. The overall project also aims to investigate how performance on rhythm tasks may be related to brain activity (non-clinical trial).

The Development of Stuttering in Young Children

The goal of this longitudinal research is to learn why some children "grow out" of stuttering, while others persist. Children who do and do not stutter aged 3-6 years are eligible to participate in our study. During the study, children's speech and language abilities will be assessed with standardized assessments, and they complete several child-friendly experiments. During these experiments, brain activity will be recorded using specialized caps while children describe pictures, children will speak in two virtual-reality scenarios, and produce speech while keeping to a beat.

Exploring the Nature, Assessment and Treatment of Stuttering

The purposes of this study are to 1) investigate potential speech, language, and psychosocial contributions to the experience of stuttering in monolingual and multilingual speakers, and to 2) evaluate interdisciplinary, telehealth, and speech-language pathology treatment methods and clinical training specific to fluency disorders.