Kalveram, K. Th. (2001) Neurobiology of speaking and stuttering. In H. G. Bosshardt, J. S. Yaruss & H. F. M. Peters (Eds.), Fluency Disorders: Theory, Research, Treatment and Self-help. Proceedings of the Third World Congress of Fluency Disorders in Nyborg, Denmark. Nijmegen: Nijmegen University Press, 59-65.
Abstract
A three level model of speech production including the word, syllable and phonem level is proposed, from which also the symptoms of stuttering can be derived. The paper is motivated by data exhibiting obvious regularities in the occurrence of stuttering. These regularities are related to an inherent and general property of the speech control system, which makes it difficult for children to acquire adult speech, especially to learn to unstress less important syllables. The model combines linguistic knowledge about the serial structure of speech, technical concepts of transmission of serial data, the biological concept of central pattern generation, the principle of audiophonatoric coupling describing how vowel generation depends of auditory feedback, and changes of speech parameters observed when young children acquire adult speech. The problem seems to arrise from the double function of the auditory feedback of the vowel, which in stressed syllables serves to control vowel length, and to synchronize the serialization of words into syllables as well. In unstressed syllables this externally mediated re-afferent control must be switched over to an internal efferent control. Faulty operations of the switch then can cause repetitions, prolongations and/or speech blocks. Because all these control and learning processes refer to low level motor control, the model also contributes to unburden stutterers and their parents from personal responsibility.

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