Regional cerebral blood flow in children. A rheoencephalographic study of the modifications induced by reading

Cerebral impedance changes (F changes) indicating cerebral blood flow were studied in 17 children aged 6-11 years and in 10 normal adults. At rest, large values were found in children, who never exhibited the 'hyperfrontality' pattern of the adults. Reading induced an F increase in both the dominant and non-dominant hemispheres, in contrast with a larger increase in the dominant hemisphere in adults. A spatial test was designed in adults which triggered a larger increase in the non-dominant hemisphere.