Language lateralization in pre-adolescent children: FMRI study using visual verb generation and word pair paradigms

FMRI is a noninvasive tool for mapping language networks, especially in children. We conducted FMRI studies in children in the age group 8- 12 years using 2 different paradigms for assessing language networks and lateralization.

To map language networks in pre-adolescent children and to calculate lateralization index using two different visual paradigms.

The study was conducted in normal right handed children in the age group 8-12 years. Sixteen normal subjects underwent FMRI using 2 paradigms- visual verb generation (VVG), word pairs paradigm (WPP) to stimulate language areas. FMRI data analysis was done using SPM8 (statistical parametric Mapping) software. Total activated voxels were calculated for each hemispheres in the pre-defined ROIs for both paradigms.

FMRI showed left language lateralization in 13 out of 16 children with both VVG and WPP and bilateral language lateralization in two subjects. With VVG there was more significant activation in the left inferior triangular gyrus (ITG) (P < 0.001), left inferior opercular gyrus (IOG) (P < 0.01), left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) (P < 0.05), left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (P < 0.05). Left posterior superior temporal gyrus (STG or WA) (P < 0.001), Left AG (P < 0.03), Left SMG (P < 0.05) were significantly activated with WP paradigm.

Our FMRI studies showed that VGP predominantly activated frontal language areas and WPP predominantly activated temperoparietal language areas. Several other brain regions were also involved in language processing apart from the classical language areas.