title: Structural alterations of the language connectome in children with specific language impairment.
abstract: We evaluated brain white matter pathways associated with language processing in 37 children with specific language impairment aged 6-12 years and 34 controls, matched for age, sex and handedness. Arcuate fascicle (AF), inferior fronto-occipital fascicle (IFOF), inferior longitudinal fascicle (ILF) and uncinate fascicle (UF) were identified using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Diffusivity parameters and volume of the tracts were compared between the SLI and control group. Children with SLI showed decreased fractional anisotropy in all investigated tracts, increased mean diffusivity and radial diffusivity component in arcuate fascicle bilaterally, left IFOF and left ILF. Further, bilaterally increased volume of the ILF in children with SLI was found. We confirmed previous findings indicating deficient connectivity of the arcuate fascicle and as a novel finding, demonstrate abnormal development of the ventral language stream in patients with SLI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vydrova
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Komarek
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sterbova
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jahodova
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maulisova
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zackova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computer Science AS CR, Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jindra
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reissigova
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: pavel.krsek@post.cz.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krsek
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kyncl
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D063132:Connectome; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000473:pathology; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Arcuate fascicle; DTI; IFOF; Specific language disorder; Ventral stream