Atypical cerebral lateralisation in adults with compensated developmental dyslexia demonstrated using functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound

Brain Lang. 2009 Oct;111(1):61-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2009.05.002. Epub 2009 Jun 13.

Abstract

Functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound (fTCD) is a relatively new and non-invasive technique that assesses cerebral lateralisation through measurements of blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral arteries. In this study fTCD was used to compare functional asymmetry during a word generation task between a group of 30 dyslexic adults and a group of 30 non-dyslexic individuals. In light of previous evidence of atypical laterality in dyslexia, a reduced leftward asymmetry was predicted and confirmed. We know from previous research that most people with atypical language lateralisation have normal language and literacy skills: nevertheless, our results confirm that language laterality is reduced in those with dyslexia. Theoretical explanations for this apparent conundrum are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Flow Velocity
  • Cerebral Cortex / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Dyslexia / diagnostic imaging
  • Dyslexia / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Language Tests
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
  • Verbal Behavior / physiology
  • Visual Perception / physiology
  • Vocabulary