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The right brain hemisphere is dominant in human infants

C Chiron1, I Jambaque, R Nabbout

  • 1Hospital F. Joliot, Department of Medical Research, Orsay, France.

Brain : a Journal of Neurology
|June 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Brain development shows early right hemisphere activity in young children, shifting to the left by age three. This functional brain asymmetry progression supports earlier right-sided development for certain cognitive functions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • Functional brain asymmetry develops during childhood.
  • Cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes reflect brain maturation.
  • Dynamic single photon emission computed tomography (dSPECT) measures regional CBF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental trajectory of functional brain asymmetry in children.
  • To correlate changes in cerebral blood flow with the emergence of cognitive functions.
  • To test the hypothesis of earlier right hemisphere functional development.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized dynamic single photon emission computed tomography (dSPECT) to measure resting-state cerebral blood flow in children.
  • Analyzed changes in blood flow patterns between 1 and 3 years of age and beyond.
  • Correlated hemispheric blood flow predominance with known developmental timelines of visuospatial and language abilities.

Main Results:

  • A right hemispheric predominance in cerebral blood flow was observed between 1 and 3 years, primarily in posterior associative areas.
  • Functional brain asymmetry shifted towards left hemispheric predominance after 3 years of age.
  • The temporal pattern of blood flow changes aligned with the emergence of right-hemisphere-dominant functions (e.g., visuospatial skills) followed by left-hemisphere-dominant functions (e.g., language).

Conclusions:

  • The findings support the hypothesis that the right hemisphere develops its functions earlier than the left hemisphere in humans.
  • Childhood cerebral blood flow patterns reflect the sequential maturation of brain regions and associated cognitive functions.
  • Dynamic single photon emission computed tomography is a valuable tool for studying developmental neurobiology and functional brain asymmetry.

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