Open AccessWeaker semantic language lateralization associated with better semantic language performance in healthy right‐handed children
Author(s) -
BarthaDoering Lisa,
Kollndorfer Kathrin,
Kasprian Gregor,
Novak Astrid,
Schuler AnnaLisa,
Fischmeister Florian Ph. S.,
Alexopoulos Johanna,
Gaillard William Davis,
Prayer Daniela,
Seidl Rainer,
Berl Madison M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.1072
Subject(s) - verbal fluency test , lateralization of brain function , psychology , cognitive psychology , functional magnetic resonance imaging , fluency , laterality , vocabulary , neuropsychology , cognition , developmental psychology , linguistics , neuroscience , philosophy , mathematics education
The relationship between language abilities and language lateralization in the developing brain is important for our understanding of the neural architecture of language development. Methods We investigated 35 right‐handed children and adolescents aged 7–16 years with a functional magnetic resonance imaging language paradigm and a comprehensive language and verbal memory examination. Results We found that less lateralized language was significantly correlated with better language performance across areas of the brain and across different language tasks. Less lateralized language in the overall brain was associated with better in‐scanner task accuracy on a semantic language decision task and out‐of‐scanner vocabulary and verbal fluency. Specifically, less lateralized frontal lobe language dominance was associated with better in‐scanner task accuracy and out‐of‐scanner verbal fluency. Furthermore, less lateralized parietal language was associated with better out‐of‐scanner verbal memory across learning, short‐ and long‐delay trials. In contrast, we did not find any relationship between temporal lobe language laterality and verbal performance. Conclusions This study suggests that semantic language performance is better with some involvement of the nondominant hemisphere.