Uncoupled leftward asymmetries for planum morphology and functional language processing. Brain Lang 2006 Jul;98(1):102-11
Date
05/16/2006Pubmed ID
16697453Pubmed Central ID
PMC1661833DOI
10.1016/j.bandl.2006.04.002Scopus ID
2-s2.0-33646848060 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 44 CitationsAbstract
Explanations for left hemisphere language laterality have often focused on hemispheric structural asymmetry of the planum temporale. We examined the association between an index of language laterality and brain morphology in 99 normal adults whose degree of laterality was established using a functional MRI single-word comprehension task. The index of language laterality was derived from the difference in volume of activation between the left and right hemispheres. Planum temporale and brain volume measures were made using structural MRI scans, blind to the functional data. Although both planum temporale asymmetry (t(1,99) = 6.86, p < .001) and language laterality (t(1,99) = 15.26, p < .001) were significantly left hemisphere biased, there was not a significant association between these variables (r(99) = .01,ns). Brain volume, a control variable for the planum temporale analyses, was related to language laterality in a multiple regression (beta = -.30, t = -2.25, p < .05). Individuals with small brains were more likely to demonstrate strong left hemisphere language laterality. These results suggest that language laterality is a multidimensional construct with complex neurological origins.
Author List
Eckert MA, Leonard CM, Possing ET, Binder JRAuthor
Jeffrey R. Binder MD Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Brain
Brain Mapping
Dominance, Cerebral
Female
Functional Laterality
Humans
Language
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Surveys and Questionnaires
Temporal Lobe