ERIC Number: EJ1474284
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1092-4388
EISSN: EISSN-1558-9102
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Right-Hemispheric White Matter Organization Is Associated with Speech Timing in Autistic Children
Kelsey E. Davison; Talia Liu; Rebecca M. Belisle; Tyler K. Perrachione; Zhenghan Qi; John D. E. Gabrieli; Helen Tager-Flusberg; Jennifer Zuk
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, v68 n6 p2685-2699 2025
Purpose: Converging research suggests that speech timing, including altered rate and pausing when speaking, can distinguish autistic individuals from nonautistic peers. Although speech timing can impact effective social communication, it remains unclear what mechanisms underlie individual differences in speech timing in autism. Method: The present study examined the organization of speech- and language-related neural pathways in relation to speech timing in autistic and nonautistic children (24 autistic children, 24 nonautistic children [ages: 5-17 years]). Audio recordings from a naturalistic language sampling task (via narrative generation) were transcribed to extract speech timing features (speech rate, pause duration). White matter organization (as indicated by fractional anisotropy [FA]) was estimated for key tracts bilaterally (arcuate fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus [SLF], inferior longitudinal fasciculus [ILF], frontal aslant tract [FAT]). Results: Results indicate associations between speech timing and right-hemispheric white matter organization (FA in the right ILF and FAT) were specific to autistic children and not observed among nonautistic controls. Among nonautistic children, associations with speech timing were specific to the left hemisphere (FA in the left SLF). Conclusion: Overall, these findings enhance understanding of the neural architecture influencing speech timing in autistic children and, thus, carry implications for understanding potential neural mechanisms underlying speech timing differences in autism.
Descriptors: Brain Hemisphere Functions, Neurological Organization, Speech, Time, Interpersonal Communication, Individual Differences, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children, Articulation (Speech), Correlation
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01DC011339; R56DC020208; T32DC013017
Author Affiliations: N/A