Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Sep 26.
doi: 10.1007/s00429-024-02857-6. Online ahead of print.

White matter connectivity linked to novel word learning in children

Clara Ekerdt #  1 , Willeke M Menks #  2   3 , Guillén Fernández  2 , James M McQueen  2   3 , Atsuko Takashima  2 , Gabriele Janzen  2   4
Affiliations

White matter connectivity linked to novel word learning in children

Clara Ekerdt et al. Brain Struct Funct. .

Abstract

Children and adults are excellent word learners. Increasing evidence suggests that the neural mechanisms that allow us to learn words change with age. In a recent fMRI study from our group, several brain regions exhibited age-related differences when accessing newly learned words in a second language (L2; Takashima et al. Dev Cogn Neurosci 37, 2019). Namely, while the Teen group (aged 14-16 years) activated more left frontal and parietal regions, the Young group (aged 8-10 years) activated right frontal and parietal regions. In the current study we analyzed the structural connectivity data from the aforementioned study, examining the white matter connectivity of the regions that showed age-related functional activation differences. Age group differences in streamline density as well as correlations with L2 word learning success and their interaction were examined. The Teen group showed stronger connectivity than the Young group in the right arcuate fasciculus (AF). Furthermore, white matter connectivity and memory for L2 words across the two age groups correlated in the left AF and the right anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) such that higher connectivity in the left AF and lower connectivity in the right ATR was related to better memory for L2 words. Additionally, connectivity in the area of the right AF that exhibited age-related differences predicted word learning success. The finding that across the two age groups, stronger connectivity is related to better memory for words lends further support to the hypothesis that the prolonged maturation of the prefrontal cortex, here in the form of structural connectivity, plays an important role in the development of memory.

Keywords: Development; Structural connectivity; White matter; Word learning.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Andersson JLR, Sotiropoulos SN (2016) An integrated approach to correction for off-resonance effects and subject movement in diffusion MR imaging. Neuroimage 125:1063–1078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.10.019 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Andersson JLR, Graham MS, Zsoldos E, Sotiropoulos SN (2016) Incorporating outlier detection and replacement into a non-parametric framework for movement and distortion correction of diffusion MR images. Neuroimage 141:556–572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.06.058 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Andersson JLR, Graham MS, Drobnjak I et al (2017) Towards a comprehensive framework for movement and distortion correction of diffusion MR images: within volume movement. Neuroimage 152:450–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.02.085 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Andersson JLR, Graham MS, Drobnjak I et al (2018) Susceptibility-induced distortion that varies due to motion: correction in diffusion MR without acquiring additional data. Neuroimage 171:277–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.12.040 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Assaf Y, Johansen-Berg H, Thiebaut de Schotten M (2019) The role of diffusion MRI in neuroscience. NMR Biomed 32:e3762. https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.3762 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources