The emergence of dyslexia in the developing brain
Ulrike Kuhl1, Nicole E Neef1, Indra Kraft1
1Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Neuroimage
|February 17, 2020
Summary
Developmental dyslexia, a reading disorder, may stem from atypical speech network maturation before literacy acquisition. This neurodevelopmental finding in children suggests predispositions, not just reading experience effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Developmental dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental learning disorder impacting literacy.
- The origins of dyslexia remain debated: predispositions versus consequences of reduced reading experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally investigate neurobiological predispositions for dyslexia.
- To differentiate early brain markers from effects of literacy experience.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 32 preliterate children to school age.
- Utilized functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Classified participants into dyslexic (n=16) and control (n=16) groups based on standardized tests.
Main Results:
- Auditory cortex gyrification predicted dyslexia before literacy learning.
- Aberrant downstream connectivity in the speech processing network was observed.
- These neurobiological markers preceded formal literacy instruction.
Conclusions:
- Dyslexia may originate from atypical speech network maturation.
- Early neurobiological markers can predict dyslexia development.
- Findings support a predisposition model for dyslexia.
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