Abstract
Background: Clinical manifestations of developmental dyslexia (DD) are greatly variable, suggesting complex underlying mechanisms. It was recently advanced that the characteristics of DD in Italian, a language with shallow orthography, are influenced by a positive history for language delay. Objective: We explored this hypothesis by studying in Italian individuals with DD (i) the brain representation of phonological processing with functional magnetic resonance imaging and (ii) the correlation between the patterns of activation and the presence/absence of previous language delay. Method: Thirteen individuals with DD and 13 controls participated in the functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment consisting of a rhyme-generation task. Results: Individuals with DD showed a reduced activation of phonological processing areas of the left hemisphere, such as the middle frontal gyrus, the precuneus, and the inferior parietal lobule, and in particular the superior temporal gyrus. Furthermore, patients with a history of language delay had reduced activation in the left inferior and medial frontal gyrus, that was associated with worse reading and phonological accuracy than patients with normal language development. Conclusions: Neurofunctional profiles of Italian individuals with DD are correlated to the history of language delay, suggesting that the relatively better behavioral profiles observed in individuals without a history of language delay are associated with a major activation of frontal networks normally involved in phonological working memory.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 85-92 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2011 |
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Keywords
- developmental dyslexia
- fMRI
- language delay
- regular orthography
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Cite this
How many functional brains in developmental dyslexia? When the history of language delay makes the difference. / Pecini, Chiara; Biagi, Laura; Brizzolara, Daniela; Cipriani, Paola; Di Lieto, Maria Chiara; Guzzetta, Andrea; Tosetti, Michela; Chilosi, Anna Maria.
In: Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Vol. 24, No. 2, 06.2011, p. 85-92.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - How many functional brains in developmental dyslexia? When the history of language delay makes the difference
AU - Pecini, Chiara
AU - Biagi, Laura
AU - Brizzolara, Daniela
AU - Cipriani, Paola
AU - Di Lieto, Maria Chiara
AU - Guzzetta, Andrea
AU - Tosetti, Michela
AU - Chilosi, Anna Maria
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - Background: Clinical manifestations of developmental dyslexia (DD) are greatly variable, suggesting complex underlying mechanisms. It was recently advanced that the characteristics of DD in Italian, a language with shallow orthography, are influenced by a positive history for language delay. Objective: We explored this hypothesis by studying in Italian individuals with DD (i) the brain representation of phonological processing with functional magnetic resonance imaging and (ii) the correlation between the patterns of activation and the presence/absence of previous language delay. Method: Thirteen individuals with DD and 13 controls participated in the functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment consisting of a rhyme-generation task. Results: Individuals with DD showed a reduced activation of phonological processing areas of the left hemisphere, such as the middle frontal gyrus, the precuneus, and the inferior parietal lobule, and in particular the superior temporal gyrus. Furthermore, patients with a history of language delay had reduced activation in the left inferior and medial frontal gyrus, that was associated with worse reading and phonological accuracy than patients with normal language development. Conclusions: Neurofunctional profiles of Italian individuals with DD are correlated to the history of language delay, suggesting that the relatively better behavioral profiles observed in individuals without a history of language delay are associated with a major activation of frontal networks normally involved in phonological working memory.
AB - Background: Clinical manifestations of developmental dyslexia (DD) are greatly variable, suggesting complex underlying mechanisms. It was recently advanced that the characteristics of DD in Italian, a language with shallow orthography, are influenced by a positive history for language delay. Objective: We explored this hypothesis by studying in Italian individuals with DD (i) the brain representation of phonological processing with functional magnetic resonance imaging and (ii) the correlation between the patterns of activation and the presence/absence of previous language delay. Method: Thirteen individuals with DD and 13 controls participated in the functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment consisting of a rhyme-generation task. Results: Individuals with DD showed a reduced activation of phonological processing areas of the left hemisphere, such as the middle frontal gyrus, the precuneus, and the inferior parietal lobule, and in particular the superior temporal gyrus. Furthermore, patients with a history of language delay had reduced activation in the left inferior and medial frontal gyrus, that was associated with worse reading and phonological accuracy than patients with normal language development. Conclusions: Neurofunctional profiles of Italian individuals with DD are correlated to the history of language delay, suggesting that the relatively better behavioral profiles observed in individuals without a history of language delay are associated with a major activation of frontal networks normally involved in phonological working memory.
KW - developmental dyslexia
KW - fMRI
KW - language delay
KW - regular orthography
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79959937273&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79959937273&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/WNN.0b013e318222a4c2
DO - 10.1097/WNN.0b013e318222a4c2
M3 - Article
VL - 24
SP - 85
EP - 92
JO - Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology
JF - Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology
SN - 1543-3633
IS - 2
ER -