The pattern of psychophysiological response to emotional stimulation in patients with chronic stuttering

The aim of the research was to identify the pattern of psycho - physiological response to emotional stimulation in adults with chronic stuttering. The need to tell a lie functioned as emotional stimulation. Reaction to the stimulus was defined as the change of electrodermal activity (EDA), heart rate (HR), thoracic breathing (TB), diaphragmatic breathing (DB) and respiratory rate (RR) observed 10 seconds before and after the emotional stimulation. Reactions were recorded using Professional Computer Polygraph PIK-02 manufactured by Areopag-Center. The subject group included 68 persons with chronic stuttering (PWS) (24 women and 44 men) as well as 62 healthy nonstuttering persons (PWNS) (18 women and 44 men). Adult patients with chronic stuttering were observed to increase the amplitude and reaction field as well as reduce the EDA latency. The researchers also noticed both increased HR and the range of its changes. Respiratory reactions included a lower amplitude of TB, higher increase and major changes within DB as well as minor changes in RR. Adult patients with chronic stuttering display a unique pattern of psychophysiological response to emotional stimulation, which is different from the one found in the control group.