STARS Conference: New Insights & Research Updates
- New findings presented at the STARS Inaugural Education adn Research conference on September 13, 2025, suggest that stuttering may stem from disruptions in the coordination between brain circuits...
- Shahriar SheikhBahaei, PhD, assistant professor of neurobiology and behavior at SUNY Stony Brook University, presented research exploring the neurobiological underpinnings of stuttering at the STARS Inaugural Education and...
- SheikhBahaei's research highlights the importance of coordinated activity between key brain circuits.Specifically, he pointed to disruptions in the interplay between circuits controlling respiration, orofacial movement (movements of the...
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Neurobiological Research sheds Light on the Mechanisms of Stuttering
Table of Contents
New findings presented at the STARS Inaugural Education adn Research conference on September 13, 2025, suggest that stuttering may stem from disruptions in the coordination between brain circuits controlling respiration, oral movements, and vocalization.
By Dr. Jennifer Chen
Understanding the neural Basis of Stuttering
Shahriar SheikhBahaei, PhD, assistant professor of neurobiology and behavior at SUNY Stony Brook University, presented research exploring the neurobiological underpinnings of stuttering at the STARS Inaugural Education and Research Conference in Dana Point, California, on September 13, 2025. His work focuses on identifying the specific brain mechanisms involved in speech production and how these mechanisms may be disrupted in individuals who stutter.
SheikhBahaei’s research highlights the importance of coordinated activity between key brain circuits.Specifically, he pointed to disruptions in the interplay between circuits controlling respiration, orofacial movement (movements of the mouth and face), and vocalization. He suggested that “this coordination of activities between these two vital circuits are affected.”
The prevalence of stuttering is notable, affecting approximately 1% of the population-roughly 80 million people worldwide [SheikhBahaei, 2025].This underscores the need for continued research into its causes and potential treatments.
Why Some Outgrow Stuttering, Others don’t
A central question in stuttering research is why some children naturally overcome the condition while others continue to experience it throughout their lives. SheikhBahaei’s work suggests that the development and refinement of the motor circuits responsible for speech may be key to this variability. Disruptions during this developmental period could led to persistent stuttering.
The complex Relationship Between Stuttering and Anxiety
SheikhBahaei addressed the frequently enough-discussed link between stuttering and anxiety,clarifying that individuals who stutter are not inherently more anxious. However,he emphasized that anxiety can exacerbate stuttering symptoms. This is highly likely due to the fact that fluent speech requires rapid and precisely timed brain activity, and even minor disruptions caused by anxiety can trigger stuttering in susceptible individuals.
The research suggests that the brain’s ability to maintain this precise timing is crucial for fluent speech. Any factor that interferes with this timing, including anxiety, can increase the likelihood of stuttering.