Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
07:44
Assessment of Cerebral Lateralization in Children using Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (fTCD)
Published on: September 27, 2010
Brain asymmetry for language in dyslexic children
1University of Oslo, Eikelund Resource Centre, Bergen, Norway. turid.helland@statped.no
Laterality
|October 30, 2004
Summary
Dyslexia impacts brain asymmetry and language representation. This study found dyslexic individuals showed deviant patterns, with subgroups exhibiting bilateral or reversed language dominance based on receptive language abilities.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Brain asymmetry research in dyslexia has produced inconsistent findings regarding patterns and cognitive links.
- Understanding language lateralization is crucial for dyslexia research and intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate language lateralization in young dyslexic individuals using dichotic listening with forced attention.
- To explore how variations in receptive language abilities influence brain asymmetry patterns in dyslexia.
Main Methods:
- A clinical group of young dyslexic subjects and a control group participated.
- Dichotic listening with forced attention was employed to infer language lateralization.
- Dyslexic participants were sub-divided based on receptive language abilities.
Main Results:
- The dyslexic group, as a whole, displayed a deviant asymmetry pattern compared to controls.
- Both dyslexic subgroups showed reduced response to right-ear stimuli.
- One subgroup (no language impairment) exhibited bilateral language representation; the other (impaired receptive language) showed reversed dominance.
Conclusions:
- Language lateralization patterns in dyslexia are heterogeneous and linked to receptive language skills.
- Deviant asymmetry and altered language representation are characteristic of dyslexia, varying with linguistic proficiency.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
01:05Cerebral Hemispheres
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
01:28Lateralization
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
01:22Language Development
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:25Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...