| Stuttering has been associated with sensorimotor control deficits and the mu rhythm has been
proposed as a reliable marker of this phenomenon in electroencephalography (EEG) research.
The purpose of this methodological-based project is to describe the procedures associated with
identifying mu rhythm neural components from people who stutter (PWS) and typically fluent
speakers (TFS) during three-syllable word productions utilizing fluency enhancing conditions.
Thirteen adults who stutter were paired with 13 non-stuttering controls. Participants produced
three-syllable length words across 3 conditions: imitation, pantomime, and production.
Independent component analysis was utilized to identify mu components. 12/13 PWS and 11/13
TFS contributed left, right, or bilateral mu components. Activity from both left and right mu
clusters was localized to the precentral gyri. The procedures described in this study have
demonstrated effective methods for separating myogenic activity from neural activity during
complex multisyllabic word production during fluency enhancing conditions.
Key words: stuttering, fluency enhancing conditions, EEG, mu rhythm, independent component
analysis |