Gotcha! I agree with everything you said. In various research studies I've noticed that they use the terminology "intolerance for a sensation of loss of control that leads to fight, flight or freeze responses" (so, both primary and secondary symptoms) In order to make the speech muscles move (or initiate motor programs for overt execution) non-stutterers and PWS are required to send command signals to the brain to move the speech muscles for fluent motor execution. But we, humans, cannot actually sense this transfer of electrical command signals in the brain. Additionally, individuals with MSD or spastic dysarthria tense the throat muscles and vocal cords with such intensity that it results in a strained, effortful voice, but this almost never leads to speech blocks. In other words, non-stutterers and PWS can speak while tensing the articulators as tightly as possible without stuttering, it doesn't prevent humans from opening and closing the laryngeal speech muscles. It's the same principle as how we can tense our hand or leg muscles as much as we can while it doesn't prevent us from moving them, in that, if we tense our leg muscles to their maximum extend, then it doesn't lead to the leg movements being stuck in any way. If, however, we wouldn't initiate leg movements (or we wouldn't initiate speech movements such as with the laryngeal, respiratory or articulatory muscles), then this would likely occur if we had "high expectations" such as: - We need to feel ready to initiate motor programs (expectation). So, if we are not feeling ready to initiate articulation e.g., because of intolerance for the sensation of loss of control, then we perceive this as a speech error or conflict resulting in shutting down speech initiation. If this is true, then I think that relying on such sensations (like tension in the vocal chords, or anticipation, or needing confidence, or a slight shift in our brain, as you pointed out) would only add a "threshold mechanism" (or suppression / filter mechanism that limits speech initiation of planned words or motor programs). For example, I can tell myself: "Don't walk", while I'm instructing to initiate leg movements and send command signals to move them. Similarly, I can tell myself: "**I feel a slight shift in the brain (or I feel anticipatory pressure in my throat) so I'm entirely convinced that I'm unable to continue saying the planned utterance**", while I'm instructing speech motor execution. (I'm referring to instructing execution of motor programs from [this strategy](https://www.reddit.com/r/Stutter/comments/1aw3nmk/have_you_ever_tried_this_stutter_strategy_for/)). If this is true, then I think we should learn to stop blaming such sensations.. and, we should instruct motor execution (to send command signals), anyway despite such sensations that trigger us, and without relying on expectations to reduce such sensations. What do you think? This is just my own opinion. I'm interested in your viewpoint. I think it's great that everyone has their own viewpoint. No one is right or wrong, I think. And, it allows us to learn from one another.