Andrew J. O. Whitehouse|Dorothy V. M. Bishop
Cerebral dominance for language function in adults with specific language impairment or autism
University of Oxford|University of Oxford
link developmental language disorders atypical cerebral lateralization postulated since 1920s evidence indirect inconsistent current study investigated proposal using functional transcranial doppler ultrasonography ftcd assesses blood flow middle cerebral arteries serving left right cerebral hemispheres group young adults specific language impairment sli n 11 recruited along three comparison groups adults history childhood sli meet criteria language impairment adulthood slihistory n 9 ii adults autism spectrum disorder comorbid language impairment asd n 11 iii adults history developmental disorder typical n 11 difference chronological age four groups sli typical groups individually matched gender handedness ftcd measurement participants asked silently generate words starting given letter later required verbalize participants slihistory group majority participants asd 818 typical 909 groups greater activation left compared right middle cerebral arteries indicating left hemisphere dominance contrast majority participants sli groups language function lateralized right hemisphere 545 dispersed bilaterally 273 findings suggest atypical cerebral dominance implicated cases poor language development ie asd slihistory groups may act biological marker persisting sli