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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 17, 2025

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

Beta synchrony for expressive language lateralizes to right hemisphere in development.

Vivek V Sharma¹, Jennifer Vannest^2,3, Hansel M Greiner⁴

¹Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.

Scientific Reports

|February 18, 2021

Summary

Language processing in the brain shows distinct developmental paths. While neural activity (ERD) shifts leftward with age, neural inhibition (ERS) shifts rightward, indicating unique developmental trajectories for language functions.

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Published on: July 31, 2019

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Assessment of Cerebral Lateralization in Children using Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound fTCD

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Published on: September 27, 2010

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

The left perisylvian network is crucial for adult language processing.
Low-beta event-related desynchrony (ERD) reflects increased neuronal activity during language production.
Low-beta event-related synchrony (ERS) is associated with neuronal inhibition but its developmental trajectory in language is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the developmental lateralization of low-beta ERS during covert verb generation in children and adolescents.
To compare the developmental trajectories of low-beta ERD and ERS in language processing.

Main Methods:

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to record brain activity in 78 participants aged 4 to 19 years.
Participants performed a covert verb generation task.
Analysis focused on low-beta band (13-23 Hz) event-related desynchrony (ERD) and event-related synchrony (ERS) lateralization.

Main Results:

Youngest children exhibited bilateral ERD and ERS.
Adolescents showed left-lateralized ERD in perisylvian regions (Broca's, Wernicke's) and right-lateralized ERS.
Age-correlated increases in lateralization were observed for both ERD and ERS, with ERD showing a linear and ERS a nonlinear trajectory.

Conclusions:

Language processing involves distinct developmental lateralization patterns for neural activation and inhibition.
ERS lateralization follows a nonlinear developmental path, suggesting unique mechanisms compared to ERD.
Findings offer insights into early neuroplasticity and the development of neuronal inhibition in language networks.