Temporal reliability and lateralization of the resting-state language network

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 24;9(1):e85880. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085880. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The neural processing loop of language is complex but highly associated with Broca's and Wernicke's areas. The left dominance of these two areas was the earliest observation of brain asymmetry. It was demonstrated that the language network and its functional asymmetry during resting state were reproducible across institutions. However, the temporal reliability of resting-state language network and its functional asymmetry are still short of knowledge. In this study, we established a seed-based resting-state functional connectivity analysis of language network with seed regions located at Broca's and Wernicke's areas, and investigated temporal reliability of language network and its functional asymmetry. The language network was found to be temporally reliable in both short- and long-term. In the aspect of functional asymmetry, the Broca's area was found to be left lateralized, while the Wernicke's area is mainly right lateralized. Functional asymmetry of these two areas revealed high short- and long-term reliability as well. In addition, the impact of global signal regression (GSR) on reliability of the resting-state language network was investigated, and our results demonstrated that GSR had negligible effect on the temporal reliability of the resting-state language network. Our study provided methodology basis for future cross-culture and clinical researches of resting-state language network and suggested priority of adopting seed-based functional connectivity for its high reliability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Mapping
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology*
  • Functional Laterality*
  • Humans
  • Language*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Rest
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This work was supported by China's National Strategic Basic Research Program (973) (2012CB720700), the National Key Technology R& D Program (2011BAI12B01), and the Natural Science Foundation of China (81201142, 81227003). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.