Nicolas Langer|Barbara Peysakhovich|Jennifer Zuk|Marie Drottar|Danielle D. Sliva|Sara A. Smith|Bryce L. C. Becker|P. Ellen Grant|Nadine Gaab
White Matter Alterations in Infants at Risk for Developmental Dyslexia
Harvard University|Boston Children's Hospital|Boston Children's Hospital|Harvard University|Boston Children's Hospital|Boston Children's Hospital|Boston Children's Hospital|Boston Children's Hospital|Boston Children's Hospital|Harvard University|Boston Children's Hospital|Harvard University|Boston Children's Hospital
developmental dyslexia dd heritable condition characterized persistent difficulties learning read white matter alterations leftlateralized language areas particularly arcuate fasciculus af observed dd diffusion properties within af correlate prereading skills early kindergarten however unclear early alterations observed investigated white matter structure 14 infants fhd ages 66176 months 18 without fhd ages 51176 months familial risk dd diffusion scans acquired natural sleep early language skills assessed tractography bilateral af reconstructed using manual automated methods allowing independent validation results fractional anisotropy fa calculated multiple nodes along tracts precise localization group differences analyses revealed significantly lower fa left af fhd compared fhd infants particularly central portion tract moreover expressive language positively correlated fa across groups results demonstrate atypical brain development associated dd already present within first 18 months life suggesting deficits associated dd may result altered structural connectivity lefthemispheric regions