Chyl, K. 1 , Luniewska, M. 1, 3 , Banaszkiewicz, A. 2 , Debska, A. 1, 3 , Zelechowska, A. 1 , Kossowski, B. 2 , Wypych, M. 2 , Marchewka, A. 2 & Jednorog, K. 1
1 Laboratory of Psychophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
2 Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
3 Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Poland
The neural predictors of reading gains were examined in 77 children entering formal education. At time-point 1 (TP1) reading and reading-related skills were assessed, whereas an fMRI localizer served to identify the neural substrates of speech (speech>vocoded speech) and print (print>false font). After a year (TP2) behavioral tests were repeated.
Reading scores at TP1 and TP2 were positively correlated with phonological and orthographic awareness as well as with each other. However correlations between reading at TP1 and TP2 and neural response to print and speech showed only partial overlap.
For print, an overlapping positive correlation was observed in bilateral IFG, STG/STS and left fusiform, with additional bilateral calcarine and left IPL for TP1 and right fusiform for TP2 scores. Overlapping negative correlation was present in bilateral superior medial gyrus, left precuneus and middle orbital gyrus with additional insulae activation for TP2.
For speech, better readers at TP1 had higher activation in the right precentral gyrus and bilateral STG, at TP2 in the left MTG. Negative correlation with speech was found in bilateral IPL for both TP1 and TP2. Left STS showed an overlap between positive correlations for print and speech with reading at both time-points supporting its multisensory integration.