Retention of implicit sequence learning in persons who stutter and persons with Parkinson's disease.

The authors investigated the retention of implicit sequence learning in 14 persons with Parkinson's disease (PPD), 14 persons who stutter (PWS), and 14 control participants. Participants completed a nonsense syllable serial reaction time task in a 120-min session. Participants named aloud 4 syllables in response to 4 visual stimuli.

Verbal implicit sequence learning in persons who stutter and persons with Parkinson's disease.

The authors investigated the integrity of implicit learning systems in 14 persons with Parkinson's disease (PPD), 14 persons who stutter (PWS), and 14 control participants. In a 120-min session participants completed a verbal serial reaction time task, naming aloud 4 syllables in response to 4 visual stimuli. Unbeknownst to participants, the syllables formed a repeating 8-item sequence.

Early-stage chunking of finger tapping sequences by persons who stutter and fluent speakers.

This research note explored the hypothesis that chunking differences underlie the slow finger-tap sequencing performance reported in the literature for persons who stutter (PWS) relative to fluent speakers (PNS). Early-stage chunking was defined as an immediate and spontaneous tendency to organize a long sequence into pauses, for motor planning, and chunks of fluent motor performance. A previously published study in which 12 PWS and 12 matched PNS practised a 10-item finger tapping sequence 30 times was examined.

Methodological considerations in the measurement of reaction time in persons who stutter.

Unlabelled: This research note describes potential trends in the reaction time (RT) performance of persons who stutter (PWS). The main purpose of this note is to describe these trends to researchers, encourage further research in this area, and alert researchers to possible concerns about the interaction of certain reaction time research procedures and characteristics of PWS. Post hoc analyses and a brief review of selected studies comparing the RT of PWS and PNS revealed three potential trends: (a) PWS show different practice effects relative to fluent speakers (PNS) on RT measures, (b) practice effect differences between PWS and PNS in RT are dependent upon task complexity, and (c) variable foreperiod intervals (VFI) may differentially affect the RT of PWS and PNS.

Speech skill learning of persons who stutter and fluent speakers under single and dual task conditions.

Two studies compared the accuracy and efficiency of initiating oral reading of nonsense syllables by persons who stutter (PWS) and fluent speakers (PNS) over practise. Findings of Study One, comparing 12 PWS and 12 PNS, replicated previous findings of slow speech sequence initiation over practise by PWS relative to PNS. In Study Two, nine PWS and eight PNS practised reading syllable sequences under single, and then dual task conditions in which a colour recognition distracter task was introduced.

Sequence skill learning in persons who stutter: implications for cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical dysfunction.

Unlabelled: The basal ganglia and cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical connections are known to play a critical role in sequence skill learning and increasing automaticity over practice. The current paper reviews four studies comparing the sequence skill learning and the transition to automaticity of persons who stutter (PWS) and fluent speakers (PNS) over practice. Studies One and Two found PWS to have poor finger tap sequencing skill and nonsense syllable sequencing skill after practice, and on retention and transfer tests relative to PNS.

Speech and nonspeech sequence skill learning in adults who stutter.

Unlabelled: Two studies compared the speech and nonspeech sequence skill learning of nine persons who stutter (PWS) and nine matched fluent speakers (PNS). Sequence skill learning was defined as a continuing process of stable improvement in speed and/or accuracy of sequencing performance over practice and was measured by comparing PWS's and PNS's performance curves of accuracy, reaction time, and sequence duration, as well as retention and transfer. In experiment one, participants completed a 30-trial finger tapping sequence and in experiment two, a 30-trial read-aloud sequence of nonsense syllables.

The transition to increased automaticity during finger sequence learning in adult males who stutter.

Unlabelled: The present study compared the automaticity levels of persons who stutter (PWS) and persons who do not stutter (PNS) on a practiced finger sequencing task under dual task conditions. Automaticity was defined as the amount of attention required for task performance. Twelve PWS and 12 control subjects practiced finger tapping sequences under single and then dual task conditions.