Loading...
Variability in lateralised blood flow response to language is associated with language development in children aged 1-5 years
Kohler, M. Keage, H. A. D. Spooner, R. Flitton, A. Hofmann, J. Churches, O. F. Elliott, Stephen Badcock, N. A.
Kohler, M.
Keage, H. A. D.
Spooner, R.
Flitton, A.
Hofmann, J.
Churches, O. F.
Elliott, Stephen
Badcock, N. A.
Abstract
The developmental trajectory of language lateralisation over the preschool years is unclear. We explored the relationship between lateralisation of cerebral blood flow velocity response to object naming and cognitive performance in children aged 1–5 years. Functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound was used to record blood flow velocity bilaterally from middle cerebral arteries during a naming task in 58 children (59% male). At group level, the Lateralisation Index (LI) revealed a greater relative increase in cerebral blood flow velocity within the left as compared to right middle cerebral artery. After controlling for maternal IQ, left-lateralised children displayed lower expressive language scores compared to right- and bi-lateralised children, and reduced variability in LI. Supporting this, greater variability in lateralised response, rather than mean response, was indicative of greater expressive language ability. Findings suggest that a delayed establishment of language specialisation is associated with better language ability in the preschool years.
Keywords
Language lateralisation, Children, Development, Functional transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, Cognitive performance
Date
2015
Type
Journal article
Journal
Brain and Language
Book
Volume
145-146
Issue
Page Range
34-41
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled