Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 24, 2025
07:44
Assessment of Cerebral Lateralization in Children using Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound fTCD
Published on: September 27, 2010
20.7K
Language development and brain reorganization in a child born without the left hemisphere
Salomi S Asaridou1, Ö Ece Demir-Lira2, Susan Goldin-Meadow3
1University of California, Irvine, Department of Neurology, Biological Sciences III, Irvine, CA, USA.
Summary
A girl born without a left hemisphere showed remarkable language and cognitive skills, demonstrating significant brain plasticity. Enhanced white matter tracts in her right hemisphere likely facilitated this exceptional compensatory development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Investigating brain plasticity in individuals with congenital brain malformations.
- Understanding the relationship between brain structure, function, and cognitive development.
Observation:
- A 14-year-old female with a prenatal diagnosis of left hemisphere agenesis due to left internal carotid artery occlusion.
- Longitudinal language and cognitive assessments revealed normal to above-average performance in phonology, word reading, and reasoning skills.
- Functional MRI showed right fronto-temporal activation during language tasks, similar to typically developing children.
Findings:
- Diffusion MRI revealed significantly larger dorsal white matter association tracts (arcuate fasciculus) in the right hemisphere compared to controls.
- These structural differences are hypothesized to support compensatory brain plasticity.
- Exceptional performance in phonology, speech repetition, and decoding was observed.
Implications:
- This case highlights the brain's remarkable capacity for adaptation and compensation following early insult.
- Enhanced white matter connectivity may play a crucial role in enabling functional recovery and high-level cognitive performance.
- Findings contribute to our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders and the mechanisms underlying cognitive resilience.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Lateralization
877
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.
877
01:05Cerebral Hemispheres
1.8K
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...
1.8K
01:10Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
3.1K
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...
3.1K
01:27Language and Cognition
635
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.
635
01:22Language Development
736
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...
736
01:22Lobes of the Cerebrum
3.6K
The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements....
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements....
3.6K