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White matter morphometric changes uniquely predict children's reading acquisition
Myers, Chelsea A. Vandermosten, Maaike Farris, Emily A. Hancock, Roeland Gimenez, Paul Black, Jessica M. Casto, Brandi Drahos, Miroslav Tumber, Mandeep Hendren, Robert L.
Myers, Chelsea A.
Vandermosten, Maaike
Farris, Emily A.
Hancock, Roeland
Gimenez, Paul
Black, Jessica M.
Casto, Brandi
Drahos, Miroslav
Tumber, Mandeep
Hendren, Robert L.
Abstract
This study examined whether variations in brain development between kindergarten and Grade 3 predicted individual differences in reading ability at Grade 3. Structural MRI measurements indicated that increases in the volume of two left temporo-parietal white matter clusters are unique predictors of reading outcomes above and beyond family history, socioeconomic status, and cognitive and preliteracy measures at baseline. Using diffusion MRI, we identified the left arcuate fasciculus and superior corona radiata as key fibers within the two clusters. Bias-free regression analyses using regions of interest from prior literature revealed that volume changes in temporo-parietal white matter, together with preliteracy measures, predicted 56% of the variance in reading outcomes. Our findings demonstrate the important contribution of developmental differences in areas of left dorsal white matter, often implicated in phonological processing, as a sensitive early biomarker for later reading abilities, and by extension, reading difficulties.
Keywords
brain, reading, literacy, cognitive development, childhood development, white matter
Date
2014
Type
Journal article
Journal
Psychological Science
Book
Volume
25
Issue
10
Page Range
1870-1883
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education (ILSTE)
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled