A longitudinal neuroimaging dataset on multisensory lexical processing in school-aged children

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Reading development is a complex process involving multiple brain regions and sensory inputs.
• Longitudinal studies are crucial for understanding developmental trajectories in cognition and brain function.
• Multimodal neuroimaging and behavioral assessments provide a comprehensive view of reading acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a longitudinal dataset on the brain correlates of multisensory lexical processing in children.
• To examine how neuroimaging and behavioral measures of reading change over time in typically developing children.
• To facilitate research on the neural basis of reading development through open data sharing.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal multimodal neuroimaging (structural MRI, functional MRI) and behavioral data collection from 188 children at T1 (approx. 10.5 years) and follow-up at T2 (approx. 13 years).
• Participants completed auditory, visual, and audio-visual rhyming judgment tasks during functional MRI scans.
• Psycho-educational assessments and parental questionnaires were administered at both time points.

Main Results:

• The dataset captures changes in brain structure and function related to reading skills over a 2.5-year period.
• Task-based functional MRI data reveal engagement of specific brain networks during lexical processing tasks.
• Behavioral data show developmental changes in reading proficiency and related cognitive skills.

Conclusions:

• This open-access dataset provides valuable insights into the longitudinal neural and behavioral underpinnings of reading development.
• The data can advance our understanding of typical reading acquisition and inform interventions for reading difficulties.
• Future research can leverage this resource to explore the interplay of sensory modalities in reading and its neural basis.