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SUMMARY:Subcortical Contributions to Speech and Language - Prof Kate Watki
 ns\, University of Oxford
DTSTART:20251107T163000Z
DTEND:20251107T180000Z
UID:TALK237166@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Psychology Reception
DESCRIPTION:Up to 8% of children experience stuttering\, and a comparable 
 proportion struggle with developmental language disorder (DLD)\, a conditi
 on marked by unexplained difficulties in acquiring a first language. Despi
 te their prevalence\, the neural bases of these developmental conditions r
 emain poorly understood. Using quantitative MRI\, our work has identified 
 distinct alterations in subcortical brain structures: elevated iron concen
 tration in the putamen in stuttering\, and reduced myelin in the caudate n
 ucleus in DLD. These findings highlight separable subcortical circuits und
 erlying motor control for speech and language learning.\nIn stuttering\, w
 e combined non-invasive brain stimulation with fluency training to reduce 
 speech disfluencies\, linking behavioural improvement to functional change
 s in the putamen and connected speech motor cortex. In DLD\, our results c
 hallenge the dominant view that the disorder stems solely from deficits in
  procedural learning circuits. Instead\, we find involvement of additional
  subcortical learning systems\, including the medial temporal lobe and cer
 ebellum. Ongoing longitudinal studies are mapping how these neural differe
 nces shape developmental trajectories in speech\, language\, and brain mat
 uration.\n\nHost: Dr Mirjana Bozic (mb383@cam.ac.uk)\n\nThis talk will be 
 recorded and uploaded to the Zangwill Club "Youtube channel":https://www.y
 outube.com/@zangwillclub5226 in due course.
LOCATION:Ground Floor Lecture Theatre\, Department of  Psychology
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