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1
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Turker S, Fumagalli B, Kuhnke P, Hartwigsen G. The 'reading' brain: Meta-analytic insight into functional activation during reading in adults. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2025; 173:106166. [PMID: 40254114 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2025] [Accepted: 04/15/2025] [Indexed: 04/22/2025]
Abstract
Literacy provides the key to social contacts, education, and employment, and significantly influences well-being and mental health. Summarizing 163 studies, the present coordinate-based meta-analysis confirms the importance of classical left-hemispheric language regions and the cerebellum across reading tasks. We found high processing specificity for letter, word, sentence, and text reading exclusively in left-hemispheric areas. Subregions within the left inferior frontal gyrus showed differential engagement for word and pseudoword reading, while subregions within the left temporo-occipital cortex showed differential engagement for words and sentences. The direct comparison of overt and covert reading revealed higher activation likelihood in auditory and motor regions during the first, and more consistent reliance on multiple demand regions during the latter. Last, silent word and pseudoword reading (explicit reading) yielded more consistent activation in left orbito-frontal, cerebellar and temporal cortices when compared to lexical decisions (implicit reading). Lexical decisions, in contrast, showed more consistent bilateral recruitment of inferior frontal and insular regions. The present meta-analysis significantly extends our understanding of the neural architecture underlying reading, corroborates findings from neurostimulation studies and can provide valuable neural insight into reading models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Turker
- Research Group Cognition and Plasticity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Brain and Language Lab, Department for Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Vienna University, Austria.
| | - Beatrice Fumagalli
- Research Group Cognition and Plasticity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Philipp Kuhnke
- Research Group Cognition and Plasticity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Cognitive and Biological Psychology, Wilhelm Wundt Institute for Psychology, Leipzig University, Neumarkt 9-19, 04109, Germany
| | - Gesa Hartwigsen
- Research Group Cognition and Plasticity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Cognitive and Biological Psychology, Wilhelm Wundt Institute for Psychology, Leipzig University, Neumarkt 9-19, 04109, Germany
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2
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Mirahadi SS, Arshi B, Nitsche MA, Mohamadi R. Impact of phonological awareness intervention combined with transcranial direct current stimulation on rapid automatized naming and verbal short term memory in developmental dyslexia: a randomized controlled trial. Disabil Rehabil 2025:1-12. [PMID: 39901846 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2455530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 12/31/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2025] [Indexed: 02/05/2025]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study evaluates the effects of phonological awareness (PA) and combined PA/transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) interventions to improve rapid automatized naming (RAN) and verbal short-term memory (VSTM) in developmental dyslexia. METHODS In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial, we included a PA+sham tDCS group [Mean age: 9.54 (1.15), 71% male] and a PA+ active tDCS group [Mean age: 9.18 (1.30), 85% male] in which we applied tDCS over the left parieto-temporal junction. Each volunteer participated in 15 intervention sessions (session duration 60 min, 3 times per week × 5 weeks). Data of the groups over time were analyzed by a mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the between-subject factor group and the within-subject factor time. RESULTS The PA intervention led to increased RAN and VSTM test scores in both groups after the end of interventions (p < 0.05). tDCS had no further effect on outcome measures as compared to PA intervention alone. CONCLUSIONS PA training is valuable to improve RAN and VSTM abilities in dyslexia. Anodal tDCS during the PA intervention had no further therapeutic effect on these skills. Therefore, the use of anodal tDCS over the left parieto-temporal junction is not recommended to improve RAN and VSTM functions in dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyyedeh Samaneh Mirahadi
- Department of Speech and Language Pathology, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Bahar Arshi
- Department of Speech and Language Pathology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
- Bielefeld University, University Hospital OWL, Protestant Hospital of Bethel Foundation, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and University Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, German Centre for Mental Health (DZPG), Bochum, Germany
| | - Reyhane Mohamadi
- Department of Speech and Language Pathology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Rehabilitation Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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3
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Mitchell JL, Yablonski M, Stone HL, Fuentes-Jimenez M, Takada ME, Tang KA, Tran JE, Chou C, Yeatman JD. Small or absent Visual Word Form Area is a trait of dyslexia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2025.01.14.632854. [PMID: 39868322 PMCID: PMC11761755 DOI: 10.1101/2025.01.14.632854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2025]
Abstract
Understanding the balance between plastic and persistent traits in the dyslexic brain is critical for developing effective interventions. This longitudinal intervention study examines the Visual Word Form Area (VWFA) in dyslexic and typical readers, exploring how this key component of the brain's reading circuitry changes with learning. We found that dyslexic readers show significant differences in VWFA presence, size, and tuning properties compared to typical readers. While reading intervention improved reading skills and increased VWFA size, disparities persisted, suggesting that VWFA abnormalities are an enduring trait of dyslexia. Notably, we found that even with sufficient intervention to close the reading skill gap, dyslexic readers are still expected to have smaller VWFAs. Our results reveal intervention-driven long-term neural and behavioral changes, while also elucidating stable differences in the functional architecture of the dyslexic brain. This provides new insights into the potential and limitations of learning-induced plasticity in the human visual cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L Mitchell
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Maya Yablonski
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford,California, USA
| | - Hannah L Stone
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Baraba, CA, USA
| | | | - Megumi E Takada
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kenny A Tang
- Department of Special Education, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jasmine E Tran
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- School of Education, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Clementine Chou
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jason D Yeatman
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford,California, USA
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4
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Barton JJS, Albonico A, Starrfelt R. The lateralization of reading. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2025; 208:301-325. [PMID: 40074404 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-15646-5.00012-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2025]
Abstract
Reports in the 1890s described reading disorders from left hemisphere damage. Subsequent work converging from a variety of research approaches have confirmed a strong dependence of reading on the left ventral occipitotemporal cortex, though there is also evidence for some reading capacity of the right hemisphere. The development of this leftward bias parallels reading acquisition in children and adults and is blunted in developmental dyslexia. Several structural and functional hypotheses have been advanced to explain why reading lateralizes to the left. In the second half of this review we explore the extension of these findings to other forms of reading. Most reading studies used the alphabetic scripts of Europe but there are many writing systems. Comparisons with logographic scripts such as Chinese and kanji have revealed subtle differences. Also, while we often think of reading as the extraction of verbal language from written text, it can be broadened to other types of information extraction from symbols. Reading can occur with visual stimuli that are not written text, as with sign language in the deaf and lip-reading, and with non-visual stimuli that are textual, as with Braille. Musical notation and number reading are other text-based visual forms of reading that do not involve words. Overall, most studies show that the left ventral occipitotemporal cortex is involved in processing these diverse types of reading, with variable contributions from the right hemisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J S Barton
- Departments of Medicine (Neurology), Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Andrea Albonico
- Departments of Medicine (Neurology), Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
| | - Randi Starrfelt
- Department of Psychology, Center for Visual Cognition, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
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5
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Vaughn S, Miciak J, Clemens N, Fletcher JM. The critical role of instructional response in defining and identifying students with dyslexia: a case for updating existing definitions. ANNALS OF DYSLEXIA 2024; 74:325-336. [PMID: 38526758 DOI: 10.1007/s11881-024-00303-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
We address defining and identifying students with dyslexia within the context of multi-tier systems of support (MTSS). We review proposed definitions of dyslexia, evidence for proposed definitional attributes, and emphasize the role of instructional response in identifying students with dyslexia. We identify dyslexia as individuals with specific deficits in reading and spelling single words combined with inadequate response to evidence-based instruction. We propose a hybrid identification process in which assessment is utilized within school-wide MTSS allowing for integration of routinely collected progress monitoring data as well integrating with more formal diagnostic measures. This proposed "hybrid" method demonstrates strong evidence for valid decision-making and directly informs instruction. We close proposing a revised definition of dyslexia that incorporates these elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Vaughn
- Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jeremy Miciak
- Department of Psychology, Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics (TIMES), The University of Houston, 4849 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Ste. 373, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Nathan Clemens
- Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jack M Fletcher
- Department of Psychology, Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics (TIMES), The University of Houston, 4849 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Ste. 373, Houston, TX, USA
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6
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Lee MM, Stoodley CJ. Neural bases of reading fluency: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuropsychologia 2024; 202:108947. [PMID: 38964441 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Reading fluency, the ability to read quickly and accurately, is a critical marker of successful reading and is notoriously difficult to improve in reading disabled populations. Despite its importance to functional literacy, fluency is a relatively under-studied aspect of reading, and the neural correlates of reading fluency are not well understood. Here, we review the literature of the neural correlates of reading fluency as well as rapid automatized naming (RAN), a task that is robustly related to reading fluency. In a qualitative review of the neuroimaging literature, we evaluated structural and functional MRI studies of reading fluency in readers from a range of skill levels. This was followed by a quantitative activation likelihood estimate (ALE) meta-analysis of fMRI studies of reading speed and RAN measures. We anticipated that reading speed, relative to untimed reading and reading-related tasks, would harness ventral reading pathways that are thought to enable the fast, visual recognition of words. The qualitative review showed that speeded reading taps the entire canonical reading network. The meta-analysis indicated a stronger role of the ventral reading pathway in rapid reading and rapid naming. Both reviews identified regions outside the canonical reading network that contribute to reading fluency, such as the bilateral insula and superior parietal lobule. We suggest that fluent reading engages both domain-specific reading pathways as well as domain-general regions that support overall task performance and discuss future avenues of research to expand our understanding of the neural bases of fluent reading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa M Lee
- Department of Neuroscience, American University, USA; Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, USA
| | - Catherine J Stoodley
- Department of Neuroscience, American University, USA; Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, USA; Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, USA.
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7
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Gengeç Benli Ş, İçer S, Demirci E, Karaman ZF, Ak Z, Acer İ, Sağır GR, Aker E, Sertkaya B. Data-driven exploratory method investigation on the effect of dyslexia education at brain connectivity in Turkish children: a preliminary study. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:1697-1712. [PMID: 39003410 PMCID: PMC11374831 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02820-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin and is characterized by reading and/or spelling problems affecting the development of language-related skills. The aim of this study is to reveal functional markers based on dyslexia by examining the functions of brain regions in resting state and reading tasks and to analyze the effects of special education given during the treatment process of dyslexia. A total of 43 children, aged between 7 and 12, whose native language was Turkish, participated in the study in three groups including those diagnosed with dyslexia for the first time, those receiving special education for dyslexia, and healthy children. Independent component analysis method was employed to analyze functional connectivity variations among three groups both at rest and during the continuous reading task. A whole-brain scanning during task fulfillment and resting states revealed that there were significant differences in the regions including lateral visual, default mode, left frontoparietal, ventral attention, orbitofrontal and lateral motor network. Our results revealed the necessity of adding motor coordination exercises to the training of dyslexic participants and showed that training led to functional connectivity in some brain regions similar to the healthy group. Additionally, our findings confirmed that impulsivity is associated with motor coordination and visuality, and that the dyslexic group has weaknesses in brain connectivity related to these conditions. According to our preliminary results, the differences obtained between children with dyslexia, group of dyslexia with special education and healthy children has revealed the effect of education on brain functions as well as enabling a comprehensive examination of dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Şerife Gengeç Benli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Semra İçer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Esra Demirci
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Zehra Filiz Karaman
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Ak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - İrem Acer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Gizem Rüveyda Sağır
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Ebru Aker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Büşra Sertkaya
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
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8
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Gupta G, Arrington CN, Morris R. Sex Differences in White Matter Diffusivity in Children with Developmental Dyslexia. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:721. [PMID: 38929300 PMCID: PMC11201584 DOI: 10.3390/children11060721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Despite the high prevalence of developmental dyslexia in the U.S. population, research remains limited and possibly biased due to the overrepresentation of males in most dyslexic samples. Studying biological sex differences in the context of developmental dyslexia can help provide a more complete understanding of the neurological markers that underly this disorder. The current study aimed to explore sex differences in white matter diffusivity in typical and dyslexic samples in third and fourth graders. Participants were asked to complete behavioral/cognitive assessments at baseline followed by MRI scanning and diffusion-weighted imaging sequences. A series of ANOVAs were conducted for comparing group membership (developmental dyslexia or typically developing), gender status (F/M), and white matter diffusivity in the tracts of interest. The Results indicated significant differences in fractional anisotropy in the left hemisphere components of the inferior and superior (parietal and temporal) longitudinal fasciculi. While males with dyslexia had lower fractional anisotropy in these tracts compared to control males, no such differences were found in females. The results of the current study may suggest that females may use a more bilateral/alternative reading network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gehna Gupta
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA;
- Georgia State/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Atlanta, GA 30318, USA;
| | - C. Nikki Arrington
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA;
- Georgia State/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Atlanta, GA 30318, USA;
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Robin Morris
- Georgia State/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Atlanta, GA 30318, USA;
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
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9
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Sinha N, Nikki Arrington C, Malins JG, Pugh KR, Frijters JC, Morris R. The reading-attention relationship: Variations in working memory network activity during single word decoding in children with and without dyslexia. Neuropsychologia 2024; 195:108821. [PMID: 38340962 PMCID: PMC11284775 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
This study utilized a neuroimaging task to assess working memory (WM) network recruitment during single word reading. Associations between WM and reading comprehension skills are well documented. Several converging models suggest WM may also contribute to foundational reading skills, but few studies have assessed this contribution directly. Two groups of children (77 developmental dyslexia (DD), 22 controls) completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) task to identify activation of a priori defined regions of the WM network. fMRI trials consisted of familiar word, pseudoword, and false font stimuli within a 1-back oddball task to assess how activation in the WM network differs in response to stimuli that can respectively be processed using word recognition, phonological decoding, or non-word strategies. Results showed children with DD recruited WM regions bilaterally in response to all stimulus types, whereas control children recruited left-lateralized WM regions during the pseudoword condition only. Group-level comparisons revealed activation differences in the defined WM network regions for false font and familiar word, but not pseudoword conditions. This effect was driven by increased activity in participants with DD in right hemisphere frontal, parietal, and motor regions despite poorer task performance. Findings suggest the WM network may contribute to inefficient decoding and word recognition strategies in children with DD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Sinha
- Department of Child and Youth Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.
| | - C Nikki Arrington
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, United States; GSU/GT Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30318, United States; Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, United States
| | - Jeffrey G Malins
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, United States; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, 06511, United States
| | - Kenneth R Pugh
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, 06511, United States; Department of Linguistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States; Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, United States
| | - Jan C Frijters
- Department of Child and Youth Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Robin Morris
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, United States
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10
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Meisler SL, Gabrieli JDE, Christodoulou JA. White matter microstructural plasticity associated with educational intervention in reading disability. IMAGING NEUROSCIENCE (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2024; 2:10.1162/imag_a_00108. [PMID: 38974814 PMCID: PMC11225775 DOI: 10.1162/imag_a_00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Children's reading progress typically slows during extended breaks in formal education, such as summer vacations. This stagnation can be especially concerning for children with reading difficulties or disabilities, such as dyslexia, because of the potential to exacerbate the skills gap between them and their peers. Reading interventions can prevent skill loss and even lead to appreciable gains in reading ability during the summer. Longitudinal studies relating intervention response to brain changes can reveal educationally relevant insights into rapid learning-driven brain plasticity. The current work focused on reading outcomes and white matter connections, which enable communication among the brain regions required for proficient reading. We collected reading scores and diffusion-weighted images at the beginning and end of summer for 41 children with reading difficulties who had completed either 1st or 2nd grade. Children were randomly assigned to either receive an intensive reading intervention (n = 26; Seeing Stars from Lindamood-Bell which emphasizes orthographic fluency) or be deferred to a wait-list group (n = 15), enabling us to analyze how white matter properties varied across a wide spectrum of skill development and regression trajectories. On average, the intervention group had larger gains in reading compared to the non-intervention group, who declined in reading scores. Improvements on a proximal measure of orthographic processing (but not other more distal reading measures) were associated with decreases in mean diffusivity within core reading brain circuitry (left arcuate fasciculus and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus) and increases in fractional anisotropy in the left corticospinal tract. Our findings suggest that responses to intensive reading instruction are related predominantly to white matter plasticity in tracts most associated with reading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven L. Meisler
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - John D. E. Gabrieli
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Joanna A. Christodoulou
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Charlestown, MA, United States
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11
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Wat EK, Jangraw DC, Finn ES, Bandettini PA, Preston JL, Landi N, Hoeft F, Frost SJ, Lau A, Chen G, Pugh KR, Molfese PJ. Will you read how I will read? Naturalistic fMRI predictors of emergent reading. Neuropsychologia 2024; 193:108763. [PMID: 38141965 PMCID: PMC11370251 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Despite reading being an essential and almost universal skill in the developed world, reading proficiency varies substantially from person to person. To study why, the fMRI field is beginning to turn from single-word or nonword reading tasks to naturalistic stimuli like connected text and listening to stories. To study reading development in children just beginning to read, listening to stories is an appropriate paradigm because speech perception and phonological processing are important for, and are predictors of, reading proficiency. Our study examined the relationship between behavioral reading-related skills and the neural response to listening to stories in the fMRI environment. Functional MRI were gathered in a 3T TIM-Trio scanner. During the fMRI scan, children aged approximately 7 years listened to professionally narrated common short stories and answered comprehension questions following the narration. Analyses of the data used inter-subject correlation (ISC), and representational similarity analysis (RSA). Our primary finding is that ISC reveals areas of increased synchrony in both high- and low-performing emergent readers previously implicated in reading ability/disability. Of particular interest are that several previously identified brain regions (medial temporal gyrus (MTG), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), inferior temporal gyrus (ITG)) were found to "synchronize" across higher reading ability participants, while lower reading ability participants had idiosyncratic activation patterns in these regions. Additionally, two regions (superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and another portion of ITG) were recruited by all participants, but their specific timecourse of activation depended on reading performance. These analyses support the idea that different brain regions involved in reading follow different developmental trajectories that correlate with reading proficiency on a spectrum rather than the usual dichotomy of poor readers versus strong readers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David C Jangraw
- Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Emily S Finn
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Peter A Bandettini
- Section on Functional Imaging Methods, NIMH, Bethesda, MD, USA; Center for Multimodal Neuroimaging, NIMH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan L Preston
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Nicole Landi
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, USA
| | - Fumiko Hoeft
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Airey Lau
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Gang Chen
- Statistical Computing Core, NIMH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kenneth R Pugh
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, USA; Department of Linguistics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Peter J Molfese
- Center for Multimodal Neuroimaging, NIMH, Bethesda, MD, USA; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA.
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12
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Cummine J, Ngo T, Nisbet K. Characterization of Cortical and Subcortical Structural Brain Asymmetry in Adults with and without Dyslexia. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1622. [PMID: 38137070 PMCID: PMC10741947 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple cortical (planum temporale, supramarginal gyrus, fusiform gyrus) and subcortical (caudate, putamen, and thalamus) regions have shown different functional lateralization patterns for skilled vs. dyslexic readers. The extent to which skilled and dyslexic adult readers show differential structural lateralization remains to be seen. Method: Participants included 72 adults (N = 41 skilled; N = 31 dyslexic) who underwent a high-resolution MRI brain scan. The grey matter volume of the cortical and subcortical structures was extracted. Results: While there were clear behavioral differences between the groups, there were no differences in any of the isolated structures (i.e., either total size or asymmetry index) and limited evidence for any brain-behavior relationships. We did find a significant cortical-cortical relationship (p = 0.006) and a subcortical-subcortical relationship (p = 0.008), but not cross-over relationships. Overall, this work provides unique information on neural structures as they relate to reading in skilled and dyslexic readers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Cummine
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2G4, Canada; (T.N.); (K.N.)
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2G4, Canada
| | - Tiffany Ngo
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2G4, Canada; (T.N.); (K.N.)
| | - Kelly Nisbet
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2G4, Canada; (T.N.); (K.N.)
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13
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Church JA. The Brain's Control Networks in Reading: Insights From Cross-Task Studies of Youth. MIND, BRAIN AND EDUCATION : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL MIND, BRAIN, AND EDUCATION SOCIETY 2023; 17:257-266. [PMID: 38745918 PMCID: PMC11091959 DOI: 10.1111/mbe.12372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Humans engage multiple brain systems to read successfully, including using regions important for vision, language, and control. Control refers to the set of executive processes in the brain that guide moment-to-moment behavior in service of our goals. There is a growing appreciation for the role of the brain's control system in reading comprehension, in reading skill change over time, and in those who have difficulty with the reading process. One way to understand the brain's control engagement in reading may be to study control engagement across multiple tasks in order to study consistencies, or cross-task similarities, relative to reading-specific variations. In this commentary, I briefly summarize some of our recent work studying the brain's control networks across different tasks (e.g., when reading, or doing different executive function tasks). I then review our findings of when control activation does or does not relate to measures of reading ability, and reading growth over time. The utility of cross-task comparisons in neuroimaging is noted, as well as the need to better understand multiple sources of heterogeneity in our developmental samples. I end by discussing a few of the many future directions for further study of the brain with regard to the brain's control processing and academic achievement.
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14
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Batouli SAH, Razavi F, Sisakhti M, Oghabian Z, Ahmadzade H, Tehrani Doost M. Examining the Dominant Presence of Brain Grey Matter in Autism During Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Basic Clin Neurosci 2023; 14:585-604. [PMID: 38628837 PMCID: PMC11016874 DOI: 10.32598/bcn.2021.1774.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with symptoms appearing from early childhood. Behavioral modifications, special education, and medicines are used to treat ASD; however, the effectiveness of the treatments depends on early diagnosis of the disorder. The primary approach in diagnosing ASD is based on clinical interviews and valid scales. Still, methods based on brain imaging could also be possible diagnostic biomarkers for ASD. Methods To identify the amount of information the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals on ASD, we reviewed 292 task-based fMRI studies on ASD individuals. This study is part of a systematic review with the registration number CRD42017070975. Results We observed that face perception, language, attention, and social processing tasks were mainly studied in ASD. In addition, 73 brain regions, nearly 83% of brain grey matter, showed an altered activation between the ASD and normal individuals during these four tasks, either in a lower or a higher activation. Conclusion Using imaging methods, such as fMRI, to diagnose and predict ASD is a great objective; research similar to the present study could be the initial step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Foroogh Razavi
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Minoo Sisakhti
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Institute for Cognitive Sciences Studies, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Oghabian
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Haady Ahmadzade
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Tehrani Doost
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, Roozbeh Psychiatry Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Martinez-Lincoln A, Fotidzis TS, Cutting LE, Price GR, Barquero LA. Examination of common and unique brain regions for atypical reading and math: a meta-analysis. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:6959-6989. [PMID: 36758954 PMCID: PMC10233309 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify consistencies across functional neuroimaging studies regarding common and unique brain regions/networks for individuals with reading difficulties (RD) and math difficulties (MD) compared to typically developing (TD) individuals. A systematic search of the literature, utilizing multiple databases, yielded 116 functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography studies that met the criteria. Coordinates that directly compared TD with either RD or MD were entered into GingerALE (Brainmap.org). An activation likelihood estimate (ALE) meta-analysis was conducted to examine common and unique brain regions for RD and MD. Overall, more studies examined RD (n = 96) than MD (n = 20). Across studies, overactivation for reading and math occurred in the right insula and inferior frontal gyrus for atypically developing (AD) > TD comparisons, albeit in slightly different areas of these regions; however, inherent threshold variability across imaging studies could diminish overlying regions. For TD > AD comparisons, there were no similar or overlapping brain regions. Results indicate there were domain-specific differences for RD and MD; however, there were some similarities in the ancillary recruitment of executive functioning skills. Theoretical and practical implications for researchers and educators are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Martinez-Lincoln
- Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
| | - Tess S Fotidzis
- Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
| | - Laurie E Cutting
- Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, 110 Magnolia Circle, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
| | - Gavin R Price
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Washington Singer Building Perry Road Exeter EX44QG, United Kingdom
| | - Laura A Barquero
- Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
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16
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Church JA, Grigorenko EL, Fletcher JM. The Role of Neural and Genetic Processes in Learning to Read and Specific Reading Disabilities: Implications for Instruction. READING RESEARCH QUARTERLY 2023; 58:203-219. [PMID: 37456924 PMCID: PMC10348696 DOI: 10.1002/rrq.439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
To learn to read, the brain must repurpose neural systems for oral language and visual processing to mediate written language. We begin with a description of computational models for how alphabetic written language is processed. Next, we explain the roles of a dorsal sublexical system in the brain that relates print and speech, a ventral lexical system that develops the visual expertise for rapid orthographic processing at the word level, and the role of cognitive control networks that regulate attentional processes as children read. We then use studies of children, adult illiterates learning to read, and studies of poor readers involved in intervention, to demonstrate the plasticity of these neural networks in development and in relation to instruction. We provide a brief overview of the rapid increase in the field's understanding and technology for assessing genetic influence on reading. Family studies of twins have shown that reading skills are heritable, and molecular genetic studies have identified numerous regions of the genome that may harbor candidate genes for the heritability of reading. In selected families, reading impairment has been associated with major genetic effects, despite individual gene contributions across the broader population that appear to be small. Neural and genetic studies do not prescribe how children should be taught to read, but these studies have underscored the critical role of early intervention and ongoing support. These studies also have highlighted how structured instruction that facilitates access to the sublexical components of words is a critical part of training the brain to read.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena L Grigorenko
- University of Houston, Texas, USA; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA; and St. Petersburg State University, Russia
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17
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Exploring Genetic and Neural Risk of Specific Reading Disability within a Nuclear Twin Family Case Study: A Translational Clinical Application. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13010156. [PMID: 36675818 PMCID: PMC9862148 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13010156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Imaging and genetic studies have characterized biological risk factors contributing to specific reading disability (SRD). The current study aimed to apply this literature to a family of twins discordant for SRD and an older sibling with reading difficulty. Intraclass correlations were used to understand the similarity of imaging phenotypes between pairs. Reading-related genes and brain region phenotypes, including asymmetry indices representing the relative size of left compared to right hemispheric structures, were descriptively examined. SNPs that corresponded between the SRD siblings and not the typically developing (TD) siblings were in genes ZNF385D, LPHN3, CNTNAP2, FGF18, NOP9, CMIP, MYO18B, and RBFOX2. Imaging phenotypes were similar among all sibling pairs for grey matter volume and surface area, but cortical thickness in reading-related regions of interest (ROIs) was more similar among the siblings with SRD, followed by the twins, and then the TD twin and older siblings, suggesting cortical thickness may differentiate risk for this family. The siblings with SRD had more symmetry of cortical thickness in the transverse temporal and superior temporal gyri, while the TD sibling had greater rightward asymmetry. The TD sibling had a greater leftward asymmetry of grey matter volume and cortical surface area in the fusiform, supramarginal, and transverse temporal gyrus. This exploratory study demonstrated that reading-related risk factors appeared to correspond with SRD within this family, suggesting that early examination of biological factors may benefit early identification. Future studies may benefit from the use of polygenic risk scores or machine learning to better understand SRD risk.
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18
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Ficco L, Müller VI, Kaufmann JM, Schweinberger SR. Socio‐cognitive, expertise‐based and appearance‐based accounts of the other‐‘race’ effect in face perception: A label‐based systematic review of neuroimaging results. Br J Psychol 2022; 114 Suppl 1:45-69. [DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Linda Ficco
- Department of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Friedrich Schiller University Jena Germany
- Department of Linguistics and Cultural Evolution International Max Planck Research School for the Science of Human History Jena Germany
| | - Veronika I. Müller
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience und Medicine (INM‐7) Research Centre Jülich Jülich Germany
| | - Jürgen M. Kaufmann
- Department of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Friedrich Schiller University Jena Germany
| | - Stefan R. Schweinberger
- Department of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Friedrich Schiller University Jena Germany
- Department of Linguistics and Cultural Evolution International Max Planck Research School for the Science of Human History Jena Germany
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19
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Patil AU, Madathil D, Fan YT, Tzeng OJL, Huang CM, Huang HW. Neurofeedback for the Education of Children with ADHD and Specific Learning Disorders: A Review. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12091238. [PMID: 36138974 PMCID: PMC9497239 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12091238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofeedback (NF) is a type of biofeedback in which an individual’s brain activity is measured and presented to them to support self-regulation of ongoing brain oscillations and achieve specific behavioral and neurophysiological outcomes. NF training induces changes in neurophysiological circuits that are associated with behavioral changes. Recent evidence suggests that the NF technique can be used to train electrical brain activity and facilitate learning among children with learning disorders. Toward this aim, this review first presents a generalized model for NF systems, and then studies involving NF training for children with disorders such as dyslexia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other specific learning disorders such as dyscalculia and dysgraphia are reviewed. The discussion elaborates on the potential for translational applications of NF in educational and learning settings with details. This review also addresses some issues concerning the role of NF in education, and it concludes with some solutions and future directions. In order to provide the best learning environment for children with ADHD and other learning disorders, it is critical to better understand the role of NF in educational settings. The review provides the potential challenges of the current systems to aid in highlighting the issues undermining the efficacy of current systems and identifying solutions to address them. The review focuses on the use of NF technology in education for the development of adaptive teaching methods and the best learning environment for children with learning disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Uday Patil
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Deepa Madathil
- Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences, O.P. Jindal Global University, Haryana 131001, India
| | - Yang-Tang Fan
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan 320315, Taiwan
| | - Ovid J. L. Tzeng
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- Centre for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDSB), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 106339, Taiwan
- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 106308, Taiwan
- Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chih-Mao Huang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- Centre for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDSB), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Hsu-Wen Huang
- Department of Linguistics and Translation, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-3442-2579
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20
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Landi N, Kleinman D, Agrawal V, Ashton G, Coyne-Green A, Roberts P, Blair N, Russell J, Stutzman A, Scorrano D, Frazier N, Pugh KR, Hoeft F. Researcher-practitioner partnerships and in-school laboratories facilitate translational research in reading. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN READING 2022; 45:367-384. [PMID: 36970562 PMCID: PMC10038566 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9817.12392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Educational neuroscience approaches have helped to elucidate the brain basis of Reading Disability (RD) and of reading intervention response; however, there is often limited translation of this knowledge to the broader scientific and educational communities. Moreover, this work is traditionally lab-based, and thus the underlying theories and research questions are siloed from classroom practices. With growing awareness of the neurobiological origins of RD and increasing popularity of putative "brain-based" approaches in clinics and classrooms, it is imperative that we create more direct and bidirectional communication between scientists and practitioners. Such direct collaborations can help dispel neuromyths, and lead to increased understanding of the promises and pitfalls of neuroscience approaches. Moreover, direct partnerships between researchers and practitioners can lead to greater ecological validity in study designs to improve upon the translational potential of findings. To this end, we have forged collaborative partnerships, and built cognitive neuroscience laboratories within independent reading disabilities schools. This approach affords frequent and ecologically valid neurobiological assessment as children's reading improves in response to intervention. It also permits the creation of dynamic models of leading and lagging relationships of students' learning, and identification of individual-level predictors of intervention response. The partnerships also provide in-depth knowledge of student characteristics and classroom practices, which, when combined with the data we acquire, may facilitate optimization of instructional approaches. In this commentary, we discuss the creation of our partnerships, the scientific problem we are addressing (variable response to reading intervention), and the epistemological significance of researcher-practitioner bi-directional learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Landi
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA and Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jay Russell
- The Windward Institute, White Plains, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kenneth R Pugh
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA and Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Fumiko Hoeft
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA and Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA
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21
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Romeo RR, Uchida L, Christodoulou JA. Socioeconomic status and reading outcomes: Neurobiological and behavioral correlates. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev 2022; 2022:57-70. [PMID: 35868867 PMCID: PMC9588575 DOI: 10.1002/cad.20475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In this chapter, we examine reading outcomes and socioeconomic status (SES) using a developmental cognitive and educational neuroscience perspective. Our focus is on reading achievement and intervention outcomes for students from lower SES backgrounds who struggle with reading. Socioeconomic disadvantage is a specific type of vulnerability students experience, which is often narrowly defined based on parental income, education level, and/or occupational prestige. However, implications of socioeconomic status extend broadly to a suite of areas relevant for reading outcomes including a student's access to resources, experiences, language exposure, academic outcomes, and psychological correlates. Underlying this constellation of factors are brain systems supporting the processing of oral and written language as well as stress-related factors. We review the implications of SES and reading achievement, and their intersectionality, for the science and practice of reading instruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R. Romeo
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Lili Uchida
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joanna A. Christodoulou
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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22
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Braid J, Richlan F. The Functional Neuroanatomy of Reading Intervention. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:921931. [PMID: 35784836 PMCID: PMC9243375 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.921931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The present article reviews the literature on the brain mechanisms underlying reading improvements following behavioral intervention for reading disability. This includes evidence of neuroplasticity concerning functional brain activation, brain structure, and brain connectivity related to reading intervention. Consequently, the functional neuroanatomy of reading intervention is compared to the existing literature on neurocognitive models and brain abnormalities associated with reading disability. A particular focus is on the left hemisphere reading network including left occipito-temporal, temporo-parietal, and inferior frontal language regions. In addition, potential normalization/compensation mechanisms involving right hemisphere cortical regions, as well as bilateral sub-cortical and cerebellar regions are taken into account. The comparison of the brain systems associated with reading intervention and the brain systems associated with reading disability enhances our understanding of the neurobiological basis of typical and atypical reading development. All in all, however, there is a lack of sufficient evidence regarding rehabilitative brain mechanisms in reading disability, which we discuss in this review.
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23
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Mirahadi SS, Nitsche MA, Pahlavanzadeh B, Mohamadi R, Ashayeri H, Abolghasemi J. Reading and phonological awareness improvement accomplished by transcranial direct current stimulation combined with phonological awareness training: A randomized controlled trial. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. CHILD 2022; 12:137-149. [PMID: 35298314 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2022.2051144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Phonological awareness (PA) training is a core intervention in dyslexia. Recently, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been probed as a complementary intervention for increasing reading ability in dyslexia, but not for enhancing the efficacy of PA. The aim of the current study was thus to examine whether tDCS combined with a PA intervention improves reading, but also PA abilities as a proxy in children with dyslexia. A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial was performed to assess the effects of tDCS (applied bilaterally over the temporo-parietal junction with the anode placed over the left, and the cathode placed over the right hemisphere) combined with PA training on reading and PA abilities in dyslexic patients. Twenty-eight participants were randomly assigned to active (PA + anodal tDCS) or sham (PA + sham tDCS) groups. Each subject participated in 15 treatment sessions. PA and real/non-word reading were evaluated at baseline before the intervention, at the end of the fifth, tenth, and final intervention sessions, and then 6 weeks after intervention. In the active tDCS group, the mean scores of non-word reading and PA tests were significantly improved during, immediately, and 6 weeks after the treatment, as compared to the sham tDCS group. tDCS is thus a promising complementary intervention if combined with PA training to enhance PA and reading abilities in dyslexia for an extended period after treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyyedeh Samaneh Mirahadi
- Department of Speech and Language Pathology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Bagher Pahlavanzadeh
- Department of Public Health, Research Center for Environmental Contaminants, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
| | - Reyhane Mohamadi
- Department of Speech and Language Pathology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hasan Ashayeri
- Department of Basic Sciences in Rehabilitation, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jamile Abolghasemi
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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24
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Perdue MV, Mahaffy K, Vlahcevic K, Wolfman E, Erbeli F, Richlan F, Landi N. Reading intervention and neuroplasticity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of brain changes associated with reading intervention. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 132:465-494. [PMID: 34856223 PMCID: PMC10327490 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral research supports the efficacy of intervention for reading disability, but the brain mechanisms underlying improvement in reading are not well understood. Here, we review 39 neuroimaging studies of reading intervention to characterize links between reading improvement and changes in the brain. We report evidence of changes in activation, connectivity, and structure within the reading network, and right hemisphere, frontal and sub-cortical regions. Our meta-analysis of changes in brain activation from pre- to post- reading intervention in eight studies did not yield any significant effects. Methodological heterogeneity among studies may contribute to the lack of significant meta-analytic findings. Based on our qualitative synthesis, we propose that brain changes in response to intervention should be considered in terms of interactions among distributed cognitive, linguistic and sensory systems, rather than via a "normalized" vs. "compensatory" dichotomy. Further empirical research is needed to identify effects of moderating factors such as features of intervention programs, neuroimaging tasks, and individual differences among participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan V Perdue
- Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Dept. of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Kelly Mahaffy
- Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Katherine Vlahcevic
- Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Emma Wolfman
- Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Florina Erbeli
- Dept. of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Fabio Richlan
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience & Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Nicole Landi
- Dept. of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA
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25
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Krafnick AJ, Napoliello EM, Flowers DL, Eden GF. The Role of Brain Activity in Characterizing Successful Reading Intervention in Children With Dyslexia. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:898661. [PMID: 35769700 PMCID: PMC9234261 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.898661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of reading intervention in dyslexia have shown changes in performance and in brain function. However, there is little consistency in the location of brain regions associated with successful reading gains in children, most likely due to variability/limitations in methodologies (study design, participant criteria, and neuroimaging procedures). Ultimately for the results to be meaningful, the intervention has to be successful, be assessed against a control, use rigorous statistics, and take biological variables (sex) into consideration. Using a randomized, crossover design, 31 children with dyslexia were assigned to a phonological- and orthographic-based tutoring period as well as a within-subjects control period to examine: (1) intervention-induced changes in behavior (reading performance) and in brain activity (during reading); and (2) behavioral and brain activity pre-intervention data that predicted intervention-induced gains in reading performance. We found gains in reading ability following the intervention, but not following the control period, with no effect of participants' sex. However, there were no changes in brain activity following the intervention (regardless of sex), suggesting that individual brain changes are too variable to be captured at the group level. Reading gains were not predicted by pre-intervention behavioral data, but were predicted by pre-intervention brain activity in bilateral supramarginal/angular gyri. Notably, some of this prediction was only found in females. Our results highlight the limitations of brain imaging in detecting the neural correlates of reading intervention in this age group, while providing further evidence for its utility in assessing eventual success of intervention, especially if sex is taken into consideration.
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Özgül Öğrenme Bozukluğu için Dikkat Eksikliği Hiperaktivite Bozukluğu Komorbiditesi Her Zaman Kötü Bir Durum Olmayabilir Mi? ANADOLU KLINIĞI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI 2021. [DOI: 10.21673/anadoluklin.1018856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Cancer A, Vanutelli ME, Lucchiari C, Antonietti A. Using Neurofeedback to Restore Inter-Hemispheric Imbalance: A Study Protocol for Adults With Dyslexia. Front Psychol 2021; 12:768061. [PMID: 34803851 PMCID: PMC8602052 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.768061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofunctional models of developmental dyslexia (DD) point out disruption of the left-lateralized reading network. In individuals with DD, the left temporo-parietal (TP) regions are underactivated during reading tasks and a dysfunctional activation of the contralateral regions is reported. After a successful reading intervention, left TP lateralization was found to be increased in children with DD. Previous studies measured the effect of modulating the excitability of the left TP cortex using non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) in individuals with reading difficulties, showing significant reading improvements. NIBS exclusion criteria and safety guidelines may limit its application in settings without medical supervision and in younger populations. Neurofeedback (NF) training could be an alternative intervention method for modulating the inter-hemispheric balance of the temporal–parietal regions in DD. To date, the effect of NF on reading has been scarcely investigated. Few protocols increasing beta activity in underactivated areas showed improved reading outcomes. However, none of the previous studies designed the NF intervention based on a neurofunctional model of DD. We aim to propose a study protocol for testing the efficacy of a NF training specifically designed for inducing a functional hemispheric imbalance of the tempo-parietal regions in adults with DD. A randomized clinical trial aimed at comparing two experimental conditions is described: (a) Enhancing left beta/theta power ratio NF training in combination with reducing right beta/theta power ratio NF training and (b) sham NF training. Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier [NCT04989088].
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Cancer
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Lucchiari
- Department of Philosophy, Università degli Studi di Milano Statale, Milan, Italy
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Yan X, Jiang K, Li H, Wang Z, Perkins K, Cao F. Convergent and divergent brain structural and functional abnormalities associated with developmental dyslexia. eLife 2021; 10:e69523. [PMID: 34569931 PMCID: PMC8497057 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain abnormalities in the reading network have been repeatedly reported in individuals with developmental dyslexia (DD); however, it is still not totally understood where the structural and functional abnormalities are consistent/inconsistent across languages. In the current multimodal meta-analysis, we found convergent structural and functional alterations in the left superior temporal gyrus across languages, suggesting a neural signature of DD. We found greater reduction in grey matter volume and brain activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus in morpho-syllabic languages (e.g. Chinese) than in alphabetic languages, and greater reduction in brain activation in the left middle temporal gyrus and fusiform gyrus in alphabetic languages than in morpho-syllabic languages. These language differences are explained as consequences of being DD while learning a specific language. In addition, we also found brain regions that showed increased grey matter volume and brain activation, presumably suggesting compensations and brain regions that showed inconsistent alterations in brain structure and function. Our study provides important insights about the etiology of DD from a cross-linguistic perspective with considerations of consistency/inconsistency between structural and functional alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Yan
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ke Jiang
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Preschool Education, Anyang Preschool Education CollegeAnyangChina
| | - Ziyi Wang
- School of Foreign Language, Jining UniversityJiningChina
| | - Kyle Perkins
- Florida International University (Retired Professor)MiamiUnited States
| | - Fan Cao
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
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29
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Martins M, Reis AM, Castro SL, Gaser C. Gray matter correlates of reading fluency deficits: SES matters, IQ does not. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:2585-2601. [PMID: 34357437 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02353-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Brain correlates of reading ability have been intensely investigated. Most studies have focused on single-word reading and phonological processing, but the brain basis of reading fluency remains poorly explored to date. Here, in a voxel-based morphometry study with 8-year-old children, we compared fluent readers (n = 18; seven boys) with dysfluent readers with normal IQ (n = 18; six boys) and with low IQ (n = 18; ten boys). Relative to dysfluent readers, fluent readers had larger gray matter volume in the right superior temporal gyrus and the two subgroups of dysfluent readers did not differ from each other, as shown in frequentist and Bayesian analyses. Pairwise comparisons showed that dysfluent readers of normal and low IQ did not differ in core reading regions and that both subgroups had less gray matter volume than fluent readers in occipito-temporal, parieto-temporal and fusiform areas. We also examined gray matter volume in matched subgroups of dysfluent readers differing only in socioeconomic status (SES): lower-SES (n = 14; seven boys) vs. higher-SES (n = 14; seven boys). Higher-SES dysfluent readers had larger gray matter volume in the right angular gyrus than their lower-SES peers, and the volume of this cluster correlated positively with lexico-semantic fluency. Age, sex, IQ, and gray matter volume of the right angular cluster explained 68% of the variance in the reading fluency of higher-SES dysfluent readers. In sum, this study shows that gray matter correlates of dysfluent reading are independent of IQ, and suggests that SES modulates areas sub-serving lexico-semantic processes in dysfluent readers-two findings that may be useful to inform language/reading remediation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Martins
- Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Lisboa, Portugal
- Center for Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - São Luís Castro
- Center for Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Christian Gaser
- Department of Psychiatry, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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Hall C, Vaughn S. Current Research Informing the Conceptualization, Identification, and Treatment of Dyslexia Across Orthographies: An Introduction to the Special Series. LEARNING DISABILITY QUARTERLY : JOURNAL OF THE DIVISION FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES 2021; 44:140-144. [PMID: 35400804 PMCID: PMC8993182 DOI: 10.1177/0731948720929010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This introduction to the special series summarizes evidence for the genetic and brain bases for dyslexia and cognitive-behavioral indicators (including ones that can be measured even before the onset of reading instruction) that attest to meaningful differences between children with dyslexia and their non-dyslexic peers. Authors review controversies that have surrounded approaches to dyslexia identification and treatment during the last few decades. Finally, they introduce the findings of the articles in the special series and discuss potential implications for dyslexia identification and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colby Hall
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
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31
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Enge A, Abdel Rahman R, Skeide MA. A meta-analysis of fMRI studies of semantic cognition in children. Neuroimage 2021; 241:118436. [PMID: 34329724 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Our capacity to derive meaning from things that we see and words that we hear is unparalleled in other animal species and current AI systems. Despite a wealth of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies on where different semantic features are processed in the adult brain, the development of these systems in children is poorly understood. Here we conducted an extensive database search and identified 50 fMRI experiments investigating semantic world knowledge, semantic relatedness judgments, and the differentiation of visual semantic object categories in children (total N = 1,018, mean age = 10.1 years, range 4-15 years). Synthesizing the results of these experiments, we found consistent activation in the bilateral inferior frontal gyri (IFG), fusiform gyri (FG), and supplementary motor areas (SMA), as well as in the left middle and superior temporal gyri (MTG/STG). Within this system, we found little evidence for age-related changes across childhood and high overlap with the adult semantic system. In sum, the identification of these cortical areas provides the starting point for further research on the mechanisms by which the developing brain learns to make sense of its environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Enge
- Research Group Learning in Early Childhood, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Rasha Abdel Rahman
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael A Skeide
- Research Group Learning in Early Childhood, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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32
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Phan TV, Sima D, Smeets D, Ghesquière P, Wouters J, Vandermosten M. Structural brain dynamics across reading development: A longitudinal MRI study from kindergarten to grade 5. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:4497-4509. [PMID: 34197028 PMCID: PMC8410537 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary education is the incubator for learning academic skills that help children to become a literate, communicative, and independent person. Over this learning period, nonlinear and regional changes in the brain occur, but how these changes relate to academic performance, such as reading ability, is still unclear. In the current study, we analyzed longitudinal T1 MRI data of 41 children in order to investigate typical cortical development during the early reading stage (end of kindergarten-end of grade 2) and advanced reading stage (end of grade 2-middle of grade 5), and to detect putative deviant trajectories in children with dyslexia. The structural brain change was quantified with a reliable measure that directly calculates the local morphological differences between brain images of two time points, while considering the global head growth. When applying this measure to investigate typical cortical development, we observed that left temporal and temporoparietal regions belonging to the reading network exhibited an increase during the early reading stage and stabilized during the advanced reading stage. This suggests that the natural plasticity window for reading is within the first years of primary school, hence earlier than the typical period for reading intervention. Concerning neurotrajectories in children with dyslexia compared to typical readers, we observed no differences in gray matter development of the left reading network, but we found different neurotrajectories in right IFG opercularis (during the early reading stage) and in right isthmus cingulate (during the advanced reading stage), which could reflect compensatory neural mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh Van Phan
- icometrix, Research and Development, Leuven, Belgium.,Experimental Oto-rhino-laryngology, Department Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diana Sima
- icometrix, Research and Development, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk Smeets
- icometrix, Research and Development, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pol Ghesquière
- Parenting and Special Education, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Wouters
- Experimental Oto-rhino-laryngology, Department Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maaike Vandermosten
- Experimental Oto-rhino-laryngology, Department Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Abstract
The scientific study of reading has a rich history that spans disciplines from vision science to linguistics, psychology, cognitive neuroscience, neurology, and education. The study of reading can elucidate important general mechanisms in spatial vision, attentional control, object recognition, and perceptual learning, as well as the principles of plasticity and cortical topography. However, literacy also prompts the development of specific neural circuits to process a unique and artificial stimulus. In this review, we describe the sequence of operations that transforms visual features into language, how the key neural circuits are sculpted by experience during development, and what goes awry in children for whom learning to read is a struggle. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Vision Science, Volume 7 is September 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason D Yeatman
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, California 93405, USA; .,Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Alex L White
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, California 93405, USA; .,Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College, New York, New York 10027, USA
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Partanen M, Kim DHC, Rauscher A, Siegel LS, Giaschi DE. White matter but not grey matter predicts change in reading skills after intervention. DYSLEXIA (CHICHESTER, ENGLAND) 2021; 27:224-244. [PMID: 32959479 DOI: 10.1002/dys.1668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study examined changes in white matter microstructure and grey matter volume, cortical thickness, and cortical surface area before and after reading intervention. Participants included 22 average readers and 13 dyslexic readers (8-9 years old in third grade); the dyslexic readers were enrolled in reading intervention programs at their elementary school. Participants completed scans of diffusion tensor imaging and T1-weighted MRI before and after 3 months of instruction. An a priori region of interest (ROI) analysis was used. Dyslexic readers, compared to average readers, showed higher mean diffusivity in white matter ROIs including bilateral inferior frontal, bilateral insula, left superior temporal, and right supramarginal gyri across time points. Dyslexic readers also had thicker cortex in left fusiform and bilateral supramarginal gyri; whereas, average readers had greater surface area in right fusiform across time. There were no significant changes in white or grey matter following intervention; however, mean diffusivity in the right hemisphere was associated with reading gains over time. White matter organization in the right hemisphere predicts reading changes, and dyslexic readers may have persistent differences in white and grey matter due to ongoing reading deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marita Partanen
- Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Danny H C Kim
- B.C. Children's Hospital MRI Research Facility, B.C. Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alexander Rauscher
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Linda S Siegel
- Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Deborah E Giaschi
- B.C. Children's Hospital MRI Research Facility, B.C. Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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35
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Emmorey K, Lee B. The neurocognitive basis of skilled reading in prelingually and profoundly deaf adults. LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS COMPASS 2021; 15:e12407. [PMID: 34306178 PMCID: PMC8302003 DOI: 10.1111/lnc3.12407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Deaf individuals have unique sensory and linguistic experiences that influence how they read and become skilled readers. This review presents our current understanding of the neurocognitive underpinnings of reading skill in deaf adults. Key behavioural and neuroimaging studies are integrated to build a profile of skilled adult deaf readers and to examine how changes in visual attention and reduced access to auditory input and phonology shape how they read both words and sentences. Crucially, the behaviours, processes, and neural circuity of deaf readers are compared to those of hearing readers with similar reading ability to help identify alternative pathways to reading success. Overall, sensitivity to orthographic and semantic information is comparable for skilled deaf and hearing readers, but deaf readers rely less on phonology and show greater engagement of the right hemisphere in visual word processing. During sentence reading, deaf readers process visual word forms more efficiently and may have a greater reliance on and altered connectivity to semantic information compared to their hearing peers. These findings highlight the plasticity of the reading system and point to alternative pathways to reading success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Emmorey
- School of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Brittany Lee
- School of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
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36
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Zuk J, Dunstan J, Norton E, Yu X, Ozernov-Palchik O, Wang Y, Hogan TP, Gabrieli JDE, Gaab N. Multifactorial pathways facilitate resilience among kindergarteners at risk for dyslexia: A longitudinal behavioral and neuroimaging study. Dev Sci 2021; 24:e12983. [PMID: 32356911 PMCID: PMC7606625 DOI: 10.1111/desc.12983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Recent efforts have focused on screening methods to identify children at risk for dyslexia as early as preschool/kindergarten. Unfortunately, while low sensitivity leads to under-identification of at-risk children, low specificity can lead to over-identification, resulting in inaccurate allocation of limited educational resources. The present study focused on children identified as at-risk in kindergarten who do not subsequently develop poor reading skills to specify factors associated with better reading outcomes among at-risk children. Early screening was conducted in kindergarten and a subset of children was tracked longitudinally until second grade. Potential protective factors were evaluated at cognitive-linguistic, environmental, and neural levels. Relative to at-risk kindergarteners with subsequent poor reading, those with typical reading outcomes were characterized by significantly higher socioeconomic status (SES), speech production accuracy, and structural organization of the posterior right-hemispheric superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). A positive association between structural organization of the right SLF and subsequent decoding skills was found to be specific to at-risk children and not observed among typical controls. Among at-risk children, several kindergarten-age factors were found to significantly contribute to the prediction of subsequent decoding skills: white matter organization in the posterior right SLF, age, gender, SES, and phonological awareness. These findings suggest that putative compensatory mechanisms are already present by the start of kindergarten. The right SLF, in conjunction with the cognitive-linguistic and socioeconomic factors identified, may play an important role in facilitating reading development among at-risk children. This study has important implications for approaches to early screening, and assessment strategies for at-risk children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Zuk
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jade Dunstan
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Norton
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Xi Yu
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ola Ozernov-Palchik
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yingying Wang
- Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Tiffany P. Hogan
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John D. E. Gabrieli
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nadine Gaab
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, USA
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37
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Beaulieu C, Yip E, Low PB, Mädler B, Lebel CA, Siegel L, Mackay AL, Laule C. Myelin Water Imaging Demonstrates Lower Brain Myelination in Children and Adolescents With Poor Reading Ability. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:568395. [PMID: 33192398 PMCID: PMC7596275 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.568395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a means to non-invasively investigate the neurological links with dyslexia, a learning disability that affects one’s ability to read. Most previous brain MRI studies of dyslexia and reading skill have used structural or diffusion imaging to reveal regional brain abnormalities. However, volumetric and diffusion MRI lack specificity in their interpretation at the microstructural level. Myelin is a critical neural component for brain function and plasticity, and as such, deficits in myelin may impact reading ability. MRI can estimate myelin using myelin water fraction (MWF) imaging, which is based on evaluation of the proportion of short T2 myelin-associated water from multi-exponential T2 relaxation analysis, but has not yet been applied to the study of reading or dyslexia. In this study, MWF MRI, intelligence, and reading assessments were acquired in 20 participants aged 10–18 years with a wide range of reading ability to investigate the relationship between reading ability and myelination. Group comparisons showed markedly lower MWF by 16–69% in poor readers relative to good readers in the left and right thalamus, as well as the left posterior limb of the internal capsule, left/right anterior limb of the internal capsule, left/right centrum semiovale, and splenium of the corpus callosum. MWF over the entire group also correlated positively with three different reading scores in the bilateral thalamus as well as white matter, including the splenium of the corpus callosum, left posterior limb of the internal capsule, left anterior limb of the internal capsule, and left centrum semiovale. MWF imaging from T2 relaxation suggests that myelination, particularly in the bilateral thalamus, splenium, and left hemisphere white matter, plays a role in reading abilities. Myelin water imaging thus provides a potentially valuable in vivo imaging tool for the study of dyslexia and its remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Eugene Yip
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pauline B Low
- Department of Education and Counseling Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | - Linda Siegel
- Department of Education and Counseling Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alex L Mackay
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cornelia Laule
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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38
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Functional connectivity alterations associated with literacy difficulties in early readers. Brain Imaging Behav 2020; 15:2109-2120. [PMID: 33048291 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00406-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The link between literacy difficulties and brain alterations has been described in depth. Resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) has been successfully applied to the study of intrinsic functional connectivity (iFc) both in dyslexia and typically developing children. Most related studies have focused on the stages from late childhood into adulthood using a seed to voxel approach. Our study analyzes iFc in an early childhood sample using the multivariate pattern analysis. This facilitates a hypothesis-free analysis and the possible identification of abnormal functional connectivity patterns at a whole brain level. Thirty-four children with literacy difficulties (LD) (7.1 ± 0.69 yr.) and 30 typically developing children (TD) (7.43 ± 0.52 yr.) were selected. Functional brain connectivity was measured using an rs-fMRI acquisition. The LD group showed a higher iFc between the right middle frontal gyrus (rMFG) and the default mode network (DMN) regions, and a lower iFc between the rMFG and both the bilateral insular cortex and the supramarginal gyrus. These results are interpreted as a DMN on/off routine malfunction in the LD group, which suggests an alteration of the task control network regulating DMN activity. In the LD group, the posterior cingulate cortex also showed a lower iFc with both the middle temporal poles and the fusiform gyrus. This could be interpreted as a failure in the integration of information between brain regions that facilitate reading. Our results show that children with literacy difficulties have an altered functional connectivity in their reading and attentional networks at the beginning of the literacy acquisition. Future studies should evaluate whether or not these alterations could indicate a risk of developing dyslexia.
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Wilcox G, Galilee A, Stamp J, Makarenko E, MacMaster FP. The Importance of Research on Integrating Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) with Evidence-Based Reading Interventions. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40817-020-00090-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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40
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Schoentgen B, Gagliardi G, Défontaines B. Environmental and Cognitive Enrichment in Childhood as Protective Factors in the Adult and Aging Brain. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1814. [PMID: 32793081 PMCID: PMC7385286 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Some recent studies have highlighted a link between a favorable childhood environment and the strengthening of neuronal resilience against the changes that occur in natural aging neurodegenerative disease. Many works have assessed the factors – both internal and external – that can contribute to delay the phenotype of an ongoing neurodegenerative brain pathology. At the crossroads of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors, these relationships are unified by the concept of cognitive reserve (CR). This review focuses on the protective effects of maintaining this CR through the cognitive aging process, and emphasizes the most essential time in life for the development and strengthening of this CR. The in-depth study of this research shows that early stimulation with regard to social and sensory interactions, contributes to the proper development of cognitive, affective and psychosocial capacities. Childhood thus appears to be the most active phase in the development of CR, and as such we hypothesize that this constitutes the first essential period of primary prevention of pathological aging and loss of cognitive capacities. If this hypothesis is correct, early stimulation of the environment would therefore be considered as a true primary prevention and a public health issue. The earlier identification of neurodevelopmental disorders, which can affect personal and professional development across the lifespan, could therefore have longer-term impacts and provide better protection against aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Schoentgen
- Réseau Aloïs Pôle Enfant (Pediatric Aloïs Network), Paris, France.,Réseau Aloïs (Aloïs Network), Paris, France
| | - Geoffroy Gagliardi
- Réseau Aloïs (Aloïs Network), Paris, France.,UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle (ICM) - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Bénédicte Défontaines
- Réseau Aloïs Pôle Enfant (Pediatric Aloïs Network), Paris, France.,Réseau Aloïs (Aloïs Network), Paris, France
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41
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Yu X, Zuk J, Perdue MV, Ozernov‐Palchik O, Raney T, Beach SD, Norton ES, Ou Y, Gabrieli JDE, Gaab N. Putative protective neural mechanisms in prereaders with a family history of dyslexia who subsequently develop typical reading skills. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:2827-2845. [PMID: 32166830 PMCID: PMC7294063 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental dyslexia affects 40-60% of children with a familial risk (FHD+) compared to a general prevalence of 5-10%. Despite the increased risk, about half of FHD+ children develop typical reading abilities (FHD+Typical). Yet the underlying neural characteristics of favorable reading outcomes in at-risk children remain unknown. Utilizing a retrospective, longitudinal approach, this study examined whether putative protective neural mechanisms can be observed in FHD+Typical at the prereading stage. Functional and structural brain characteristics were examined in 47 FHD+ prereaders who subsequently developed typical (n = 35) or impaired (n = 12) reading abilities and 34 controls (FHD-Typical). Searchlight-based multivariate pattern analyses identified distinct activation patterns during phonological processing between FHD+Typical and FHD-Typical in right inferior frontal gyrus (RIFG) and left temporo-parietal cortex (LTPC) regions. Follow-up analyses on group-specific classification patterns demonstrated LTPC hypoactivation in FHD+Typical compared to FHD-Typical, suggesting this neural characteristic as an FHD+ phenotype. In contrast, RIFG showed hyperactivation in FHD+Typical than FHD-Typical, and its activation pattern was positively correlated with subsequent reading abilities in FHD+ but not controls (FHD-Typical). RIFG hyperactivation in FHD+Typical was further associated with increased interhemispheric functional and structural connectivity. These results suggest that some protective neural mechanisms are already established in FHD+Typical prereaders supporting their typical reading development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and LearningBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of MedicineBoston Children's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jennifer Zuk
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of MedicineBoston Children's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Meaghan V. Perdue
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of MedicineBoston Children's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Psychological SciencesUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
- Haskins LaboratoriesNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Ola Ozernov‐Palchik
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of MedicineBoston Children's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Talia Raney
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of MedicineBoston Children's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sara D. Beach
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Division of Medical SciencesHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Elizabeth S. Norton
- Department of Communication Sciences and DisordersNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
| | - Yangming Ou
- Division of Newborn MedicineBoston Children’s HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Fetal‐Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science CenterBoston Children’s HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of RadiologyBoston Children’s HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - John D. E. Gabrieli
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Nadine Gaab
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of MedicineBoston Children's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of PediatricsHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Harvard Graduate School of EducationCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
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42
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Moore AL, Carpenter DM, James RL, Miller TM, Moore JJ, Disbrow EA, Ledbetter CR. Neuroimaging and Neuropsychological Outcomes Following Clinician-Delivered Cognitive Training for Six Patients With Mild Brain Injury: A Multiple Case Study. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:229. [PMID: 32670040 PMCID: PMC7326946 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nearly half of all mild brain injury sufferers experience long-term cognitive impairment, so an important goal in rehabilitation is to address their multiple cognitive deficits to help them return to prior levels of functioning. Cognitive training, or the use of repeated mental exercises to enhance cognition, is one remediation method for brain injury. The primary purpose of this hypothesis-generating pilot study was to explore the statistical and clinical significance of cognitive changes and transfer of training to real-life functioning following 60 h of Brain Booster, a clinician-delivered cognitive training program, for six patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) or non-traumatic acquired brain injury (ABI). The secondary purpose was to explore changes in functional connectivity and neural correlates of cognitive test gains following the training. We used a multiple case study design to document significant changes in cognitive test scores, overall IQ score, and symptom ratings; and we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore trends in functional network connectivity and neural correlates of cognitive change. All cognitive test scores showed improvement with statistically significant changes on five of the seven measures (long-term memory, processing speed, reasoning, auditory processing, and overall IQ score). The mean change in IQ score was 20 points, from a mean of 108 to a mean of 128. Five themes emerged from the qualitative data analysis including improvements in cognition, mood, social identity, performance, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). With MRI, we documented significant region-to-region changes in connectivity following cognitive training including those involving the cerebellum and cerebellar networks. We also found significant correlations between changes in IQ score and change in white matter integrity of bilateral corticospinal tracts (CST) and the left uncinate fasciculus. This study adds to the growing body of literature examining the effects of cognitive training for mild TBI and ABI, and to the collection of research on the benefits of cognitive training in general. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02918994.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Lawson Moore
- Department of Psychology, Gibson Institute of Cognitive Research, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
| | - Dick M. Carpenter
- College of Education, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
| | | | - Terissa Michele Miller
- Department of Psychology, Gibson Institute of Cognitive Research, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
| | - Jeffrey J. Moore
- School of Nursing, Colorado State University-Pueblo, Pueblo, CO, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Disbrow
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Center for Brain Health, Shreveport, LA, United States
| | - Christina R. Ledbetter
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Center for Brain Health, Shreveport, LA, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States
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43
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Miciak J, Fletcher JM. The Critical Role of Instructional Response for Identifying Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities. JOURNAL OF LEARNING DISABILITIES 2020; 53:343-353. [PMID: 32075514 PMCID: PMC7560958 DOI: 10.1177/0022219420906801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
This article addresses the nature of dyslexia and best practices for identification and treatment within the context of multitier systems of support (MTSS). We initially review proposed definitions of dyslexia to identify key commonalities and differences in proposed attributes. We then review empirical evidence for proposed definitional attributes, focusing on key sources of controversy, including the role of IQ, instructional response, as well as issues of etiology and immutability. We argue that current empirical evidence supports a dyslexia classification marked by specific deficits in reading and spelling words combined with inadequate response to evidence-based instruction. We then propose a "hybrid" dyslexia identification process built to gather data relevant to these markers of dyslexia. We argue that this assessment process is best implemented within school-wide MTSS because it leverages data routinely collected in well-implemented MTSS, including documentation of student progress and fidelity of implementation. In contrast with other proposed methods for learning disability (LD) identification, the proposed "hybrid" method demonstrates strong evidence for valid decision-making and directly informs intervention.
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44
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Bigdely-Shamlo N, Touryan J, Ojeda A, Kothe C, Mullen T, Robbins K. Automated EEG mega-analysis I: Spectral and amplitude characteristics across studies. Neuroimage 2020; 207:116361. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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45
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Grigorenko EL, Compton D, Fuchs L, Wagner R, Willcutt E, Fletcher JM. Understanding, educating, and supporting children with specific learning disabilities: 50 years of science and practice. AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST 2020; 75:37-51. [PMID: 31081650 PMCID: PMC6851403 DOI: 10.1037/amp0000452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Specific learning disabilities (SLDs) are highly relevant to the science and practice of psychology, both historically and currently, exemplifying the integration of interdisciplinary approaches to human conditions. They can be manifested as primary conditions-as difficulties in acquiring specific academic skills-or as secondary conditions, comorbid to other developmental disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this synthesis of historical and contemporary trends in research and practice, we mark the 50th anniversary of the recognition of SLDs as a disability in the United States. Specifically, we address the manifestations, occurrence, identification, comorbidity, etiology, and treatment of SLDs, emphasizing the integration of information from the interdisciplinary fields of psychology, education, psychiatry, genetics, and cognitive neuroscience. SLDs, exemplified here by specific word reading, reading comprehension, mathematics, and written expression disabilities, represent spectrum disorders, each occurring in approximately 5% to 15% of the school-aged population. In addition to risk for academic deficiencies and related functional social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties, those with SLDs often have poorer long-term social and vocational outcomes. Given the high rate of occurrence of SLDs and their lifelong negative impact on functioning if not treated, it is important to establish and maintain effective prevention, surveillance, and treatment systems involving professionals from various disciplines trained to minimize the risk and maximize the protective factors for SLDs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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46
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Romeo RR, Christodoulou JA, Halverson KK, Murtagh J, Cyr AB, Schimmel C, Chang P, Hook PE, Gabrieli JDE. Socioeconomic Status and Reading Disability: Neuroanatomy and Plasticity in Response to Intervention. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:2297-2312. [PMID: 28591795 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Although reading disability (RD) and socioeconomic status (SES) are independently associated with variation in reading ability and brain structure/function, the joint influence of SES and RD on neuroanatomy and/or response to intervention is unknown. In total, 65 children with RD (ages 6-9) with diverse SES were assigned to an intensive, 6-week summer reading intervention (n = 40) or to a waiting-list control group (n = 25). Before and after, all children completed standardized reading assessments and magnetic resonance imaging to measure cortical thickness. At baseline, higher SES correlated with greater vocabulary and greater cortical thickness in bilateral perisylvian and supramarginal regions-especially in left pars opercularis. Within the intervention group, lower SES was associated with both greater reading improvement and greater cortical thickening across broad, bilateral occipitotemporal and temporoparietal regions following the intervention. Additionally, treatment responders (n = 20), compared with treatment nonresponders (n = 19), exhibited significantly greater cortical thickening within similar regions. The waiting control and nonresponder groups exhibited developmentally typical, nonsignificant cortical thinning during this time period. These findings indicate that effective summer reading intervention is coupled with cortical growth, and is especially beneficial for children with RD who come from lower-SES home environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R Romeo
- Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School and Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.,McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Joanna A Christodoulou
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kelly K Halverson
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jack Murtagh
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Abigail B Cyr
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Carly Schimmel
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Patricia Chang
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Pamela E Hook
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John D E Gabrieli
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, USA.,MIT Integrated Learning Initiative, Cambridge, MA, USA
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47
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Fraga González G, Smit DJA, van der Molen MJW, Tijms J, de Geus EJC, van der Molen MW. Probability learning and feedback processing in dyslexia: A performance and heart rate analysis. Psychophysiology 2019; 56:e13460. [PMID: 31435961 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that individuals with dyslexia may be impaired in probability learning and performance monitoring. These observations are consistent with findings indicating atypical neural activations in frontostriatal circuits in the brain, which are important for associative learning. The current study further examined probability learning and performance monitoring in adult individuals with dyslexia (n = 23) and typical readers (n = 31) using two varieties of a typical probabilistic learning task. In addition to performance measures, we measured heart rate, focusing on cardiac slowing with negative feedback as a manifestation of the automatic performance monitoring system. One task required participants to learn associations between artificial script and speech sounds and the other task required them to learn associations between geometric forms and bird sounds. Corrective feedback (informative or random) was provided in both tasks. Performance results indicated that individuals with dyslexia and typical readers learned the associations equally well in contrast to expectations. We found the typical cardiac response associated with feedback processing consisting of a heart rate slowing with the presentation of the feedback and a return to baseline thereafter. Interestingly, the heart rate slowing associated with feedback was less pronounced and the return to baseline was delayed in individuals with dyslexia relative to typical readers. These findings were interpreted in relation to current theorizing of performance monitoring linking the salience network in the brain to autonomic functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Fraga González
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Rudolf Berlin Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - D J A Smit
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M J W van der Molen
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - J Tijms
- Rudolf Berlin Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,IWAL Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E J C de Geus
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M W van der Molen
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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48
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Abstract
Developmental cognitive neuroscience is flourishing but there are new challenges and new questions to be asked. I argue that we need a bigger picture and an evolutionary framework. This brings some challenges, such as the need to rewrite the old story of nature and nurture, and the need to systematically investigate innate predispositions. While brain imaging has provided some splendid insights and new puzzles to solve, its limitations must not be ignored. Can they help us to find out more about the extent to which the infant brain already configures the adult brain? Can we find out why neurodevelopmental disorders often have severe consequences on cognition and behaviour, despite the mitigating force of brain plasticity? I wish to encourage researchers of the future to take risks by letting their imagination inspire theories to pursue hard questions. I end with a wish list of topics, from start-up kits to abstract reasoning, that I hope can be tackled afresh. However, collecting physiological and behavioural data is not enough. We need a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uta Frith
- UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, United Kingdom.
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49
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Thomas MSC, Fedor A, Davis R, Yang J, Alireza H, Charman T, Masterson J, Best W. Computational modeling of interventions for developmental disorders. Psychol Rev 2019; 126:693-726. [PMID: 31169397 PMCID: PMC6776073 DOI: 10.1037/rev0000151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We evaluate the potential of connectionist models of developmental disorders to offer insights into the efficacy of interventions. Based on a range of computational simulation results, we assess factors that influence the effectiveness of interventions for reading, language, and other cognitive developmental disorders. The analysis provides a level of mechanistic detail that is generally lacking in behavioral approaches to intervention. We review an extended program of modeling work in four sections. In the first, we consider long-term outcomes and the possibility of compensated outcomes and resolution of early delays. In the second section, we address methods to remediate atypical development in a single network. In the third section, we address interventions to encourage compensation via alternative pathways. In the final section, we consider the key issue of individual differences in response to intervention. Together with advances in understanding the neural basis of developmental disorders and neural responses to training, formal computational approaches can spur theoretical progress to narrow the gap between the theory and practice of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Fedor
- MTA-ELTE Theoretical Biology and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group
| | | | | | | | - Tony Charman
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience
| | | | - Wendy Best
- Division of Psychology & Language Sciences
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50
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Nugiel T, Roe MA, Taylor WP, Cirino PT, Vaughn SR, Fletcher JM, Juranek J, Church JA. Brain activity in struggling readers before intervention relates to future reading gains. Cortex 2019; 111:286-302. [PMID: 30557815 PMCID: PMC6420828 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neural markers for reading-related changes in response to intervention could inform intervention plans by serving as a potential index of the malleability of the reading network in struggling readers. Of particular interest is the role of brain activation outside the reading network, especially in executive control networks important for reading comprehension. However, it is unclear whether any intervention-related executive control changes in the brain are specific to reading tasks or reflect more domain general changes. Brain changes associated with reading gains over time were compared for a sentence comprehension task as well as for a non-lexical executive control task (a behavioral inhibition task) in upper-elementary struggling readers, and in grade-matched non-struggling readers. Functional MRI scans were conducted before and after 16 weeks of reading intervention. Participants were grouped as improvers and non-improvers based on the consistency and size of post-intervention gains across multiple post-test measures. Engagement of the right fusiform during the reading task, both before and after intervention, was related to gains from remediation. Additionally, pre-intervention activation in regions that are part of the default-mode network (precuneus) and the fronto-parietal network (right posterior middle temporal gyrus) separated improvers and non-improvers from non-struggling readers. None of these differences were observed during the non-lexical inhibitory control task, indicating that the brain changes seen related to intervention outcome in struggling readers were specific to the reading process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tehila Nugiel
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Mary Abbe Roe
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - W Patrick Taylor
- Department of Psychology, The University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paul T Cirino
- Department of Psychology, The University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sharon R Vaughn
- Meadows Center for Prevention of Educational Risk, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jack M Fletcher
- Department of Psychology, The University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jenifer Juranek
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jessica A Church
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Biomedical Imaging Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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