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Malik-Moraleda S, Jouravlev O, Taliaferro M, Mineroff Z, Cucu T, Mahowald K, Blank IA, Fedorenko E. Functional characterization of the language network of polyglots and hyperpolyglots with precision fMRI. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae049. [PMID: 38466812 PMCID: PMC10928488 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
How do polyglots-individuals who speak five or more languages-process their languages, and what can this population tell us about the language system? Using fMRI, we identified the language network in each of 34 polyglots (including 16 hyperpolyglots with knowledge of 10+ languages) and examined its response to the native language, non-native languages of varying proficiency, and unfamiliar languages. All language conditions engaged all areas of the language network relative to a control condition. Languages that participants rated as higher proficiency elicited stronger responses, except for the native language, which elicited a similar or lower response than a non-native language of similar proficiency. Furthermore, unfamiliar languages that were typologically related to the participants' high-to-moderate-proficiency languages elicited a stronger response than unfamiliar unrelated languages. The results suggest that the language network's response magnitude scales with the degree of engagement of linguistic computations (e.g. related to lexical access and syntactic-structure building). We also replicated a prior finding of weaker responses to native language in polyglots than non-polyglot bilinguals. These results contribute to our understanding of how multiple languages coexist within a single brain and provide new evidence that the language network responds more strongly to stimuli that more fully engage linguistic computations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saima Malik-Moraleda
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Olessia Jouravlev
- Department of Cognitive Science, Carleton University, Ottawa K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Maya Taliaferro
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Zachary Mineroff
- Eberly Center, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15289, United States
| | - Theodore Cucu
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15289, United States
| | - Kyle Mahowald
- Department of Linguistics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - Idan A Blank
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Evelina Fedorenko
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02114, United States
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Hishikawa K, Yoshinaga K, Togo H, Hongo T, Hanakawa T. Changes in functional brain activity patterns associated with computer programming learning in novices. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:1691-1701. [PMID: 37474776 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02674-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Computer programming, the process of designing, writing, and testing executable computer code, is an essential skill in numerous fields. A description of the neural structures engaged and modified during programming skill acquisition could help improve training programs and provide clues to the neural substrates underlying the acquisition of related skills. METHODS Fourteen female university students without prior computer programing experience were examined by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during the early and late stages of a 5-month 'Computer Processing' course. Brain regions involved in task performance and learning were identified by comparing responses to programming and control tasks during the early and late stages. RESULTS The accuracy of performing a programming task was significantly improved during the late stage. Various regions of the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortex as well as several subcortical structures (caudate nuclei and cerebellum) were activated during programming tasks. Brain activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus was greater during the late stage and significantly correlated with improved task performance. Although the left inferior frontal gyrus was also highly active during the programming task, there were no learning-induced changes in activity or a significant correlation between activity and improved task performances. CONCLUSION Computer programming learning among novices induces functional neuroplasticity within the right inferior frontal gyrus but not the left inferior gyrus (Broca's area).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Hishikawa
- Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences (Doctoral Program), Track of Medical and Dental Sciences, Department of NCNP Brain Physiology and Pathology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Yoshinaga
- Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan.
- Integrated Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Togo
- Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
- Integrated Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takeshi Hongo
- Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
- Faculty of Social Information Studies, Otsuma Women's University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Hanakawa
- Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, Integrative Brain Imaging Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences (Doctoral Program), Track of Medical and Dental Sciences, Department of NCNP Brain Physiology and Pathology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Integrated Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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Pascual JSG, Khu KJO, Starreveld YP. Cortical mapping in multilinguals undergoing awake brain surgery for brain tumors: Illustrative cases and systematic review. Neuropsychologia 2023; 179:108450. [PMID: 36529263 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Awake brain mapping in multilingual patients with brain tumors presents unique challenges to the neurosurgeon. Knowledge of potential eloquent sites is vital to preserve language function. METHODS We present two cases of pars opercularis glioma and perform a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS Our review yielded 7 studies, with a total of 25 multilingual brain tumor patients who underwent awake brain mapping. The age ranged from 25 to 62 years. Majority were female (56.5%). Most (52%) were trilingual, while 20% were quadrilingual and 28% were pentalingual. All tumors were left-sided, mostly in the frontal lobe. These were predominantly gliomas. Extent of resection was gross total in 61%. The brain mapping findings were heterogeneous. Some authors reported a greater number of cortical sites for the first language compared to others. Others found that the first and second languages shared cortical sites whereas the third and subsequent languages were located in distant sites. The peri-Sylvian area was also found to be involved in language that was learned at an earlier age. Subsequent languages thus involved more distant sites. A larger number of cortical areas were also activated for languages that were learned later in life. In terms of language disturbance and recovery, there were mixed results. CONCLUSION Cortical mapping in multilingual brain tumor patients showed heterogeneity in terms of the location and number of language areas in the face of pathology. These findings may influence neurosurgical and oncological management of tumors in the speech area but emphasize the need to tailor surgical approaches and intraoperative testing to the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Silvestre G Pascual
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
| | - Kathleen Joy O Khu
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
| | - Yves P Starreveld
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Yazbek S, Hage S, Mallak I, Smayra T. Tractography of the arcuate fasciculus in healthy right-handed and left-handed multilingual subjects and its relation to language lateralization on functional MRI. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20936. [PMID: 34686728 PMCID: PMC8536719 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00490-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional MRI (fMRI) enables evaluation of language cortical organization and plays a central role in surgical planning. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) or Tractography, allows evaluation of the white matter fibers involved in language. Unlike fMRI, DTI does not rely on the patient’s cooperation. In monolinguals, there is a significant correlation between the lateralization of language on fMRI and on DTI. Our objective is to delineate the arcuate fasciculus (AF) in right- and left-handed trilinguals and determine if the AF laterality on DTI is correlated to language lateralization on fMRI. 15 right and 15 left-handed trilingual volunteers underwent fMRI and DTI. Laterality Index was determined on fMRI (fMRI-LI). Mean Diffusivity, Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Number of Fibers, Fiber Length, Fiber Volume and Laterality Index (DTI-LI) of the AF were calculated on DTI. 28 of the 30 subjects presented a bilateral AF. Most subjects (52%) were found to have a bilateral language lateralization of the AF on DTI. Only 4 subjects had bilateral lateralization of language on fMRI. The right AF demonstrated lower diffusivity than the left AF in the total participants, the right-handed, and the left-handed subjects. FA, Volume and Length of the AF were not significantly different between the two hemispheres. No correlation was found between the DTI-LI of the AF and the fMRI-LI. A prominent role of the right AF and a bilateral structural organization of the AF was present in our multilingual population regardless of their handedness. While in prior studies DTI was able to determine language lateralization in monolingual subjects, this was not possible in trilingual highly educated subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Yazbek
- Medical School, Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Boulevard Alfred Naccache, Achrafieh, PO Box 166830, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Stephanie Hage
- Medical School, Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Boulevard Alfred Naccache, Achrafieh, PO Box 166830, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Iyad Mallak
- Medical School, Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Boulevard Alfred Naccache, Achrafieh, PO Box 166830, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Tarek Smayra
- Medical School, Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Boulevard Alfred Naccache, Achrafieh, PO Box 166830, Beirut, Lebanon.
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Wang H, Zhou H, Guo Y, Gao L, Xu H. Voxel-Wise Analysis of Structural and Functional MRI for Lateralization of Handedness in College Students. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:687965. [PMID: 34483863 PMCID: PMC8414999 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.687965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain structural and functional basis of lateralization in handedness is largely unclear. This study aimed to explore this issue by using voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) measured by resting-state functional MRI (R-fMRI) and gray matter asymmetry index (AI) by high-resolution anatomical images. A total of 50 healthy subjects were included, among them were 13 left-handers, 24 right-handers, and 13 mixed-handers. Structural and R-fMRI data of all subjects were collected. There were significant differences in VMHC among the three groups in lateral temporal-occipital, orbitofrontal, and primary hand motor regions. Meanwhile, there were significant differences in AI that existed in medial prefrontal, superior frontal, and superior temporal regions. Besides, the correlation analysis showed that the closer the handedness score to the extreme of the left-handedness (LH), the stronger the interhemispheric functional connectivity, as well as more leftward gray matter. In general, left/mixed-handedness (MH) showed stronger functional homotopy in the transmodal association regions that depend on the integrity of the corpus callosum, but more variable in primary sensorimotor cortices. Furthermore, the group differences in VMHC largely align with that in AI. We located the specific regions for LH/MH from the perspective of structural specification and functional integration, suggesting the plasticity of hand movement and different patterns of emotional processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haha Wang
- Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yihao Guo
- Siemens MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haibo Xu
- Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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