[Gray matter morphological changes in children with cleft palate speech disorder]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is a common congenital condition affecting facial structures.
• Cleft palate speech disorder (CPSD) is a frequent complication in individuals with CLP.
• Understanding the neural underpinnings of CPSD is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate morphological gray matter (GM) alterations in children with CLP and CPSD.
• To utilize voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM) for detailed analysis.
• To establish a reference for the neural mechanisms underlying CPSD in the CLP population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 29 children with CLP and CPSD was compared to 33 healthy controls.
• VBM and SBM techniques were employed to analyze brain morphology.
• Statistical analyses were performed to identify significant differences in GM volume, cortical thickness, and gyrification.

Main Results:

• Reduced GM volume was observed in the left inferior temporal gyrus, right inferior parietal angular gyrus, and left upper cerebellum in the CLP group.
• Increased GM volume was noted in the right medial superior frontal gyrus.
• Thinner insula cortical thickness and increased right cingulate gyrus isthmus sulcus index were found in CLP children.

Conclusions:

• Children with CLP and speech disorders exhibit widespread GM abnormalities in language-related brain areas.
• These include decreased GM volume, reduced cortical thickness, and altered gyrification.
• The identified morphological changes likely contribute to the speech disorder characteristics observed in the CLP population.