Lateralized Theta Wave Connectivity and Language Performance in 2- to 5-Year-Old Children

Abstract

Recent neuroimaging studies support the view that a left-lateralized brain network is crucial for language development in children. However, no previous studies have demonstrated a clear link between lateralized brain functional network and language performance in preschool children. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a noninvasive brain imaging technique and is a practical neuroimaging method for use in young children. MEG produces a reference-free signal, and is therefore an ideal tool to compute coherence between two distant cortical rhythms. In the present study, using a custom child-sized MEG system, we investigated brain networks while 78 right-handed preschool human children (32-64 months; 96% were 3-4 years old) listened to stories with moving images. The results indicated that left dominance of parietotemporal coherence in theta band activity (6-8 Hz) was specifically correlated with higher performance of languagerelated tasks, whereas this laterality was not correlated with nonverbal cognitive performance, chronological age, or head circumference. Power analyses did not reveal any specific frequencies that contributed to higher language performance. Our results suggest that it is not the left dominance in theta oscillation per se, but the left-dominant phase-locked connectivity via theta oscillation that contributes to the development of language ability in young children.

Development of Network Synchronization Predicts Language Abilities

“…Previously, it has been demonstrated that lateralization of MEG sensor coherence in the theta band was associated with language performance in young children (Kikuchi et al, 2011). Moreover, preservation of this sensor-level coherence was found to be related to language abilities in young children with autism spectrum disorder, suggesting that development of typical network connectivity dynamics is linked with preservation of language abilities in clinical child populations (Yoshimura et al, 2013).…”

Algorithm for estimation of brain structural location from head surface shape in young children

“…functional MRI and PET), noninvasive, low stress functional brain measurement methods, such as MEG and NIRS, have recently been proven feasible for use in preschool-age children, and reports have begun to appear regarding various cognitive processes in this age group [1,2,[9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

“…Functional neuroimaging techniques such as magnetoencephalography (MEG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) have advantages for use in young children because they are noninvasive, less stressful, and less restrictive than other methods [1,2]. However, when used alone, there are technical drawbacks intrinsic to MEG and NIRS in that these methods measure cortical activities without anatomical information of the brain.…”

Measuring cognitive abilities and resting-state neuromagnetic signals in children

“…For example, fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) studies have shown that the functional connectivity between some brain regions estimated by BOLD signals during resting-state could predict, or at least correlate with, individual differences of cognitive abilities (e.g., [1,2]). Other neuroimaging methods (e.g., magnetoencephalography; MEG) can also measure the resting-state brain activity and associate the activity with cognitive abilities or disorders [3,4]. For example, Tsiaras et al [3] reported that the non-linear characteristics of resting-state functional connectivity estimated from MEG signals might be available as a biomarker for autism spectrum disorder for adult subjects.…”

“…For example, Tsiaras et al [3] reported that the non-linear characteristics of resting-state functional connectivity estimated from MEG signals might be available as a biomarker for autism spectrum disorder for adult subjects. Kikuchi et al [4] conducted a resting-state study for children and found that the lateralization of theta band oscillation correlated with the language ability in the early development period.…”