Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) awarded the University of Pittsburgh a $249,000 Project Grant on July 1, 2025, under the Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders program (CFDA 93.173) to investigate the neural mechanisms controlling the cessation of ongoing speech production. The research will utilize high-density electrocorticography (ECoG) to record neural activity directly from the human cortex while participants perform speech production tasks. The primary deliverable is fundamental neuroscience research examining how premotor cortical areas generate signals to modulate the ventral sensorimotor cortex for stopping speech, with the overarching goal of understanding the neural circuits underlying precise speech timing control during conversation. This knowledge is intended to advance understanding of normal speech production and inform potential treatments for speech and communication disorders such as stuttering and aphasia.

The three-year project, concluding July 31, 2028, will be conducted at the University of Pittsburgh's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania facility. The research directly addresses a significant knowledge gap in speech neuroscience, as existing literature adequately describes neural circuits supporting speech generation but provides limited understanding of neural control mechanisms for abruptly stopping utterances mid-production. Deliverables will include scientific findings and analyses from Aim 1, which will define premotor signals for speech control, contributing to the NIDCD program's mission to investigate solutions relevant to individuals with communication disorders through biomedical research and development.