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Dynamic Brain State Alterations During Reading in Children with Dyslexia: A Hidden Semi-Markov Model Analysis
Mohammadreza Balooch Hasankhani1, Hamid Sharini2, Tania Dehesh3
1Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Occupational Environment Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Children with dyslexia exhibit altered brain network dynamics, spending more time in highly connected states and less time in low-integration states compared to typically developing children. These differences in functional brain connectivity may underlie reading difficulties.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Dyslexia is a common learning disorder linked to altered brain functional connectivity.
- Previous research focused on static connectivity, neglecting dynamic network fluctuations during reading.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) differences in children with dyslexia during a reading task.
- To compare brain network states and temporal dynamics between children with dyslexia and typically developing (TD) controls.
Main Methods:
- Applied state-based dFC analysis using Hidden Semi-Markov Models (HSMMs) to fMRI data from children with dyslexia (n=19) and TD children (n=16).
- Analyzed state occupancy, sojourn duration, and transition probabilities during a reading-aloud task.
Main Results:
- Children with dyslexia spent less time in low-integration states and more time in highly connected states than TD children.
- A highly integrated state was unique to the dyslexia group; TD children more frequently returned to low-integration states.
- Dyslexia group showed altered temporal regulation, with prolonged intermediate state durations and transitions favoring increased integration.
Conclusions:
- Dyslexia is associated with altered dynamic functional connectivity in the attention-language system.
- Individuals with dyslexia exhibit atypical temporal regulation of brain states, shifting along an integration-segregation continuum.
- These dynamic network alterations may reflect underlying organizational differences in task-relevant systems, though behavioral significance requires further study.
