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Left-handedness and language lateralization in children
Jerzy P Szaflarski1, Akila Rajagopal, Mekibib Altaye
1Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. Jerzy.Szaflarski@uc.edu
Brain Research
|December 20, 2011
Summary
This study shows that language lateralization in children, both left- and right-handed, develops similarly with age. Left-hemispheric language dominance increases with age, with similar patterns observed in both handedness groups.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Language lateralization, the brain's organization for language functions, typically shows left-hemisphere dominance.
- Understanding the developmental trajectory of language lateralization in children, particularly comparing left- and right-handed individuals, is crucial for cognitive development research.
- Previous studies suggest variations in language lateralization based on handedness, but developmental patterns require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental patterns of language lateralization in left- and right-handed children aged 5–18 years.
- To compare hemispheric language dominance between left- and right-handed children using functional MRI (fMRI).
- To examine the influence of age and sex on language lateralization development.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3 Tesla was employed.
- A verb generation task was used to assess brain activation patterns.
- Hemispheric language dominance was measured using frontal and temporo-parietal regions of interest (ROIs) on an individual basis.
Main Results:
- Both left- and right-handed children predominantly showed left-hemispheric language lateralization.
- Left-hemispheric language dominance increased with age in both groups.
- Similar rates of increase in left-hemispheric language lateralization with age were observed, irrespective of handedness, suggesting shared developmental mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Language lateralization develops progressively towards left-hemispheric dominance with age in children, regardless of handedness.
- The incidence of atypical language lateralization in left-handed children is comparable to that in adults.
- Developmental trajectories of language lateralization appear to be similar across handedness groups, indicating conserved neurodevelopmental processes.
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