Marisa Nordt|Jesse Gomez|Vaidehi Natu|Brianna Jeska|Michael Barnett|Kalanit Grill-Spector
Learning to Read Increases the Informativeness of Distributed Ventral Temporal Responses
Ruhr University Bochum|Stanford University|Stanford University|Stanford University|Stanford University|Stanford University|Neurosciences Institute
becoming proficient reader requires substantial learning many years however unknown learning read affects development distributed visual representations across human ventral temporal cortex vtc using fmri datadriven computational approach quantified development distributed vtc responses characters pseudowords numbers versus domains children preteens adults results reveal anatomical hemispherespecific development development distributed responses words characters became distinctive informative lateral medial vtc left right hemisphere development voxels positive negative preference words affected distributed information development voxels positive preference words ie wordselective correlated reading ability data show developmental increases informativeness distributed left lateral vtc responses related proficient reading important implications developmental theories elucidating neural mechanisms reading disabilities