Language lateralization and the role of the fusiform gyrus in semantic processing in young children.
We used blood oxygen-dependent (BOLD) fMRI technique at 1.5 T to examine brain regions associated with language comprehension in normally developing children, age 5 to 10 years. Twenty-three children participated in the study using an auditory semantic decision task which varied in task difficulty. Analysis of individual participants' data showed patterns of activation largely consistent with previous neuroimaging findings in adult language processing. Group data analysis also showed a strong left-lateralized pattern of activation that closely resembles those typically observed in adults. In addition, significant activation in the left fusiform gyrus was observed and was associated with task accuracy. This finding suggests that auditory semantic processing in young children may recruit cortical regions associated with word reading in adults prior to the initiation of a semantic category decision, a process which is consistent with patterns of early word recognition process and language development.
Department of Neurology, Children's National Medical Center, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
L M
LM
Balsamo
B
B
Xu
W D
WD
Gaillard
D000367:Age Factors; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D012660:Semantics; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*
D010100:Oxygen