Auditory Cortex Morphology Predicts Language Learning Potential in Children and Teenagers

Abstract

In two recent studies, we identified neuroanatomical and neurofunctional markers of musical aptitude, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder and dyslexia in the auditory cortex (AC) of children. In a subsequent study with adults, we found evidence for neuroanatomical correlates of speech imitation ability in right Heschl‘s gyrus (HG), a structure comprising primary and parts of secondary AC. In the present study, we aimed to verify this previously suggested link between structural variation of right HG and language aptitude in a younger population of children and teenagers ( N = 42; age range: 10–16 years), while behaviorally exploring the relationship between language aptitude, working memory, arithmetic skills and musicality. Behaviorally, scores on the language aptitude battery strongly correlated with working memory and speech imitation ability. Furthermore, we found that self- and parent-reported language aptitude and school grades were closely associated with language aptitude scores. Neuroanatomical analyses revealed a significant relationship between the occurrence of multiple HGs and high gray matter (GM) volumes in right AC and high language aptitude regardless of age, gender or musical ability. Additionally, low language aptitude was associated with the occurrence of single gyri in right AC. In accordance with previous research, we suggest that right HG might be associated with language aptitude, with a stronger gyrification and higher GM volumes being beneficial for successful auditory processing and the integration of speech-related cues.

Language aptitude and language awareness: Polyglot perspectives

“…The huge increase in research activities around the notion over the last two decades may, in time, take us closer to a clearer picture. Current neuroanatomical and neurofunctional research achievements, for example, recent achievements in specifying the role of the auditory cortex for the language learning potential (Saito et al, 2020;Seither-Preisler et al, 2014;Turker et al, 2019), may be a road forward.…”

TASH: Toolbox for the Automated Segmentation of Heschl’s gyrus

“…We are currently also extending TASH to allow a more flexible approach to feature selection, one that can be decided upon by researchers based on their research goals and hypotheses. For example, previous work has shown associations between duplications (and triplications, etc) of the transverse temporal gyrus and musical/ language skills 8,14,17 . Thus, there is a need for automated and reliable methods to allow the segmentation not only of HG but also of fully duplicated second (and third, etc., when present) transverse temporal gyri (e.g.…”

“…size, shape, thickness etc) of human auditory cortex, and of HG more specifically 6,7 . These studies have shown relationships between individual differences in HG size and morphology (i.e., gyrification) with individual differences in language skill, learning and expertise [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] , professional musicianship [16][17][18][19][20] and reading disorders such as dyslexia [21][22][23] , to name a few. These auditory cortex structural differences could be due to individual differences in experience-dependent structural plasticity 24 , and/or to differences in pre-existing, possibly innate factors 25 .…”

Brain, musicality, and language aptitude: A complex interplay

“…Higher gray and white matter volumes in the left auditory cortex were also confirmed in expert phoneticians (Golestani et al, 2011), potentially due to their intense life-long training and work in phonology and/or innate potential. An association between high speech imitation skills, language aptitude, and the possession of multiple Heschl's gyri 1 (i.e., the occurrence of multiple transverse gyri in the auditory cortex) was also found in children's, teenagers', and adults' right auditory cortices (Turker, 2019;Turker et al, 2017Turker et al, , 2019. In the same studies, possessing a single gyrus correlated with particularly low scores on the language aptitude tests.…”