Vibrational energy created at the larynx during speech will deflect vestibular mechanoreceptors in humans (Todd et al., 2008; Curthoys, 2017; Curthoys et al., 2019). Vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP), an indirect measure of vestibular function, was assessed in 15 participants who stutter, with a non-stutter control group of 15 participants paired on age and sex. VEMP amplitude was 8.5 dB smaller in the stutter group than the non-stutter group (p = 0.035, 95% CI [-0.9, -16.1], t = -2.1, d = -0.8, conditional R2 = 0.88). The finding is subclinical as regards gravitoinertial function, and is interpreted with regard to speech-motor function in stuttering. There is overlap between brain areas receiving vestibular innervation, and brain areas identified as important in studies of persistent developmental stuttering. These include the auditory brainstem, cerebellar vermis, and the temporo-parietal junction. The finding supports the disruptive rhythm hypothesis (Howell et al., 1983; Howell, 2004) in which sensory inputs additional to own speech audition are fluency-enhancing when they coordinate with ongoing speech.

中文翻译：

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持续性发育性口吃的弱前庭反应

说话时喉部产生的振动能量会偏转人类的前庭机械感受器（Todd 等人，2008 年；Curthoys，2017 年；Curthoys 等人，2019 年）。前庭诱发肌源性电位 (VEMP) 是一种间接测量前庭功能的方法，在 15 名口吃参与者中进行了评估，非口吃对照组 15 名参与者按年龄和性别配对。口吃组的 VEMP 幅度比非口吃组小 8.5 dB（p = 0.035，95% CI [-0.9，-16.1]，t = -2.1，d = -0.8，条件 R2 = 0.88）。该发现在重力惯性功能方面是亚临床的，并根据口吃中的言语运动功能进行解释。接受前庭神经支配的大脑区域与在持续性发育性口吃研究中被确定为重要的大脑区域之间存在重叠。这些包括听觉脑干、小脑蚓部和颞顶叶交界处。该发现支持破坏性节奏假设（Howell 等人，1983 年；Howell，2004 年），其中除了自己的语音试听之外的感官输入在与正在进行的语音协调时会提高流畅度。