Child age and plenum temporale asymmetry

Author(s): Jancke, L., SchmitzHillebrecht, J., Steinmetz, H.

Journal/Book: Brain Cognition. 1999; 40: 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA. Academic Press Inc. 441-452.

Abstract: Investigations using in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) morphometry have shown that left-right asymmetry of the planum temporale (PT) is a structural correlate of hemispheric functional asymmetries in adult humans (e.g., handedness, language representation). Postmortem studies of brains of fetuses and newborns have demonstrated that PT asymmetry becomes visible as early as in the last gestational trimester. The same studies could not clarify when the full (adult) degree of PT asymmetry is reached during brain development and whether this process may be influenced by functional specialization during childhood. We examined 61 neuropsychiatrically normal right-handed children aged 3 to 14 years (mean age +/-SD, 8.4 +/- 2.7 years; cross-sectional study). MR morphometry showed no change in PT or planum parie-tale asymmetry with increasing age or brain volume. An unexpected gender difference of unknown significance emerged, with girls displaying a stronger leftward PT asymmetry, independently of age. For the age range studied, the results suggest that functional differentiation follows a structural asymmetry that is already ''preset.''

Note: Article Steinmetz H, Univ Frankfurt, Dept Neurol, Schleusenweg 2-16, D-60590 Frankfurt, GERMANY

Keyword(s): HUMAN AUDITORY-CORTEX; IN-VIVO MORPHOMETRY; PLANUM TEMPORALE; HEMISPHERIC-ASYMMETRY; CEREBRAL ASYMMETRY; LANGUAGE; SPEECH; PATTERN; SURFACE; REGION

Zurück | Weiter