We evaluated how right- and the left-temporal lobe activation of first (1(st) LR), second (2(nd)LR), and third (3(rd)LR) level readers (N = 60; Age = 6-9 years) varied with reading level, word characteristics, and cognitive abilities by using electroencephalogram measurements while the children read high-frequency/high-imageability, high-frequency/low-imageability, and nonsense words. The ANOVA showed significant interaction effects: 1(st)LR had greater right-hemispheric activation than 3(rd)LR, who had greater left-hemispheric activation; for nonsense words, 1(st)LR had lower left-hemisphere activation than that of 2(nd)LR and 3(rd)LR. The electroencephalogram (EEG) measure of hemispheric asymmetry indicated a developmental effect on lateralized activity in the temporal lobes of beginning readers during word reading.
In Study I, 24 children at the average ages of 41.1 and 46.1 mo. were presented dichotic digits while another 27 children were tested at average ages of 40.0, 49.6, and 54.6 mo. In Study II, 40 children were tested at average ages of 50.7 and again at 91.8 mo. No significant change in right-ear advantage (REA) appeared across 4- or 9-mo. intervals; however, significant increases were found over the 14-mo. (Study I) and 41-mo. (Study II) intervals. There were no significant effects of sex or phenotypic or family history of handedness.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.