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From: Klaas Bakker, MSU, Springfield MO.
Date: 15 Apr 2010
Time: 20:45:56 -0500
Remote Name: 173.22.193.98
Hi Jonathan, I too am unable to make a specific link between chromosome 16 and cluttering, and have not heard from anyone specifically looking at this connection specifically to explain cluttering. The comment Yvonne made is based on some pieces of anecdotal or descriptive research that pointed to the Basal Ganglia as the potential site of the brain involved in cluttering. As evidence it may just be at the level of "smoke" but no fire in sight. It is worthwhile pursuing further I think. Also some of the evidence I am referring to is quite old. I am not aware if it is possible to specifically study brain activity at the Basal ganglia through surface electrodes like in EEG like your son has had. It would seem a little deep for that type of examination but I am not a specialist in that area. Even if we establish if the Basal Ganglia with any level of confidence can be considered involved in cluttering your question unfortunately remains "how"? I have personally always been intrigued about some similarities in the speech of Parkinson's patients who suffer from degeneration in the Basal Ganglia. At earlier stages their speech can sometimes be in relatively rapid bursts, followed by somewhat long breathing pauses. Such patients also have excess disfluencies some of which may be stuttering like and same to be related to the rapid rushes. Speech in their case can be rapid because the speaking behaviors aren't as completely executed. This then may be a difference compared to people who clutter as can sometimes be somewhat loud in blurting speech out rapidly. They do not hold back in motor movement compared to Parkinson's patients.