Use of Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy To Measure Brain Blood Flow Differences During Speaking and Nonspeaking Tasks for Fluent Speakers and Persons Who Stutter

Abstract

Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) is a novel optical method for measuring blood flow in deep tissues that has not yet been used in stuttering research. DCS is a portable technique that employs low power radiation in a safe region of the electromagnetic spectrum (near-infrared) to noninvasively record relative changes in regional blood flow. The technology has successfully probed hemodynamic responses of the human brain and can potentially be used to assess and understand differences in brain areas associated with speech production in persons who stutter and normally fluent speakers. This pilot study reports on the feasibility of DCS to assess blood flow levels in the brains of persons who stutter and normally fluent speakers during speaking and nonspeaking tasks including, singing, counting, choral reading, conversational speech, and reading aloud.