Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 11, 2025
06:52
Using Cholesky Decomposition to Explore Individual Differences in Longitudinal Relations between Reading Skills
Published on: September 17, 2019
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Twin differences in lateral ventricle size accompany twin differences in phonological decoding.
Mark A Eckert1,2, Kenneth I Vaden3, Emma C Bartley4
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA. me2935@columbia.edu.
Brain Structure & Function
|August 11, 2025
Summary
Larger lateral ventricles in one twin correlate with poorer phonological decoding accuracy, suggesting brain structure differences, not just genetics, impact reading skills.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Phonological processing is crucial for reading proficiency.
- Previous twin studies suggest partial genetic and shared environmental influences on these skills.
- Understanding individual differences in phonological decoding accuracy requires examining brain structure and perinatal factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain structural differences, specifically lateral ventricle volume, associated with variations in phonological decoding accuracy between twins.
- To explore potential perinatal explanations for observed twin differences in phonological processing.
- To determine if increased lateral ventricle size is a marker for reduced phonological decoding accuracy beyond shared genetic and environmental influences.
Main Methods:
- A twin difference study design involving 88 twin pairs (N=176).
- T1-weighted MRI scans analyzed using diffeomorphic spatial normalization and voxel-based analysis of Jacobian determinant images.
- Examination of associations between twin differences in voxel-wise volumetric displacement and phonological decoding accuracy.
Main Results:
- Twins with larger lateral ventricles, especially in the left hemisphere, exhibited significantly poorer phonological decoding accuracy compared to their co-twin.
- This association was more pronounced in twins with substantial differences in phonological decoding accuracy and adjacent white matter microstructure.
- No clear perinatal risk factors, like slow fetal growth, were identified as direct explanations for the lateral ventricle-phonological decoding link.
Conclusions:
- Increased lateral ventricle size serves as a marker for phonological decoding accuracy that is lower than predicted by shared genetic and environmental factors.
- Brain structural variations, particularly in lateral ventricle volume, play a significant role in individual differences in reading-related skills.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking brain structure, perinatal factors, and phonological processing.
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