While the mechanism of stuttering remains unclear for the scientific world, researchers from Washington University in Saint-Louis (Missouri, United States) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have taken a first major step in the study of this disorder of the language.
The results of their work were published on April 14 in the scientific journal Current Biology.
The Gnptab gene involved in stuttering
Scientists relied on a gene identified in the late 2000s, which appears to be involved in the disorder. They have developed mice carrying this gene, called Gnptab.
To check if the small rodents stammered well, they developed a system that allowed them to assess whether the cries of stutterers were different from those of non-stuttering mice.
And by removing the mothers from the mice, the cries were heard: those with the genetic mutation paused longer in their cries than those who did not and often repeated the same sound.
The cause of stuttering is biological
Researchers now believe that this disorder mainly has a cause biological although stress can exacerbate it.
For a long time, it was believed that the stuttering was caused by stress or even emotional trauma in childhood.
Scientists will continue their research to learn more about the mechanisms of action of this language disorder.
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