What are reasons that listening to music using earplugs increase or decrease stuttering?

What are reasons that listening to music using earplugs increase or decrease stuttering? Regarding auditory distraction, when I was still studying at university, I sometimes wore earplugs while listening to music and talking to someone. Over those four years, this technique would sometimes reduce my stuttering and improve fluency, whereas at other times.. during those 4 years, the very same auditory cue would make my stuttering worse here's my personal interpretation I think when earplugs and music reduce stuttering, the brain may subconsciously link auditory feedback (like listening to music) to speech execution (if conditioning occured).. I think that this LINK that i mentoined in the previous phrase can be visualized in the form of a REASON. the brain may subconsciously infer lower listener evaluation or reduced social threat or any other REASON eg believing that auditory feedback supports fluency. The opposite is also true, if the brain relies on the reason that auditory music is too distractful to speak eg the brain prioritizes calm and quiet environments to be able to speak more easily, it would then evaluate earplug music to be an error for speech execution. Whatever the underlying reason, it is likely that almost all people who stutter do not reach the level of mindful observation needed to identify this deeply subconscious REASON that links cues, evaluation, and speech execution For example, if auditory feedback increases one's stuttering the brain may associate earplugs with a higher anticipatory load, which could amplify automatic motivational signals in the ventral striatum. This would be consistent with the idea that the ventral striatum is sensitive to being observed, receiving social feedback, and communicating self-relevant information.. and that affective cues can bias approach–avoidance decisions through striatal circuitry. there is a new 2026 research paper you SHOULD read, [see this research paper](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.02.707906v1.full)