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Peitz K, Stumme J, Jockwitz C, Bittner N, Caspers S, Heim S. The influence of bilingualism on gray matter volume in the course of aging: a longitudinal study. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1193283. [PMID: 37547741 PMCID: PMC10400456 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1193283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Bilingualism is associated with higher gray matter volume (GMV) as a form of brain reserve in brain regions such as the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and the inferior parietal lobule (IPL). A recent cross-sectional study reported the age-related GMV decline in the left IFG and IPL to be steeper for bilinguals than for monolinguals. The present study aimed at supporting this finding for the first time with longitudinal data. Methods In the current study, 200 participants aged 19 to 79 years (87 monolinguals, 113 sequential bilinguals, mostly native German speakers with variable second language background) were included. Trajectories of GMV decline in the bilateral IFG and IPL were analyzed in mono- and bilinguals over two time points (mean time interval: 3.6 years). For four regions of interest (left/right IFG and left/right IPL), mixed Analyses of Covariance were conducted to assess (i) GMV changes over time, (ii) GMV differences for language groups (monolinguals/bilinguals), and (iii) the interaction between time point and language group. Corresponding analyses were conducted for the two factors of GMV, surface area (SA) and cortical thickness (CT). Results There was higher GMV in bilinguals compared to monolinguals in the IPL, but not IFG. While the left and right IFG and the right IPL displayed a similar GMV change in mono- and bilinguals, GMV decline within the left IPL was significantly steeper in bilinguals. There was greater SA in bilinguals in the bilateral IPL and a steeper CT decline in bilinguals within in the left IPL. Conclusion The cross-sectional observations of a steeper GMV decline in bilinguals could be confirmed for the left IPL. Additionally, the higher GMV in bilinguals in the bilateral IPL may indicate that bilingualism contributes to brain reserve especially in posterior brain regions. SA appeared to contribute to bilinguals' higher GMV in the bilateral IPL, while CT seemed to account for the steeper structural decline in bilinguals in the left IPL. The present findings demonstrate the importance of time as an additional factor when assessing the neuroprotective effects of bilingualism on structural features of the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Peitz
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Johanna Stumme
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christiane Jockwitz
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nora Bittner
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Svenja Caspers
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefan Heim
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Li J, Yang Y, Viñas-Guasch N, Yang Y, Bi HY. Differences in brain functional networks for audiovisual integration during reading between children and adults. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1520:127-139. [PMID: 36478220 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Building robust letter-to-sound correspondences is a prerequisite for developing reading capacity. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the development of audiovisual integration for reading are largely unknown. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging in a lexical decision task to investigate functional brain networks that support audiovisual integration during reading in developing child readers (10-12 years old) and skilled adult readers (20-28 years old). The results revealed enhanced connectivity in a prefrontal-superior temporal network (including the right medial frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, and left superior temporal gyrus) in adults relative to children, reflecting the development of attentional modulation of audiovisual integration involved in reading processing. Furthermore, the connectivity strength of this brain network was correlated with reading accuracy. Collectively, this study, for the first time, elucidates the differences in brain networks of audiovisual integration for reading between children and adults, promoting the understanding of the neurodevelopment of multisensory integration in high-level human cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Center for Brain Science and Learning Difficulties, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Center for Brain Science and Learning Difficulties, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Yinghui Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Center for Brain Science and Learning Difficulties, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,China Welfare Institute Information and Research Center, Soong Ching Ling Children Development Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Yan Bi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Center for Brain Science and Learning Difficulties, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Schug AK, Brignoni‐Pérez E, Jamal NI, Eden GF. Gray matter volume differences between early bilinguals and monolinguals: A study of children and adults. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:4817-4834. [PMID: 35848371 PMCID: PMC9582359 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gray matter has been shown to be greater in early bilingual adults relative to monolingual adults in regions associated with language (Mechelli et al., 2004), and executive control (EC; Olulade et al., 2016). It is not known, however, if language experience-dependent differences in gray matter volume (GMV) exist in children. Further, any such differences are likely not to be the same as those observed in early bilingual adults, as children have had relatively shorter duration of dual-language exposure and/or less development of brain regions serving EC. We tested these predictions by comparing GMV in Spanish-English early bilingual and English monolingual children, and Spanish-English early bilingual and English monolingual adults (n = 122). Comparing only children revealed relatively more GMV in the bilinguals in bilateral frontal, right inferior frontal, and right superior parietal cortices (regions associated with EC). Bilinguals, however, had less GMV in left inferior parietal cortex (region associated with language). An ANOVA including these children with bilingual and monolingual adults revealed interactions of Language Background by Age Group. There were no regions of more GMV in bilinguals relative to monolinguals that were less pronounced in children than adults, despite the children's shorter dual-language experience. There were relative differences between bilingual and monolingual children that were more pronounced than those in adults in left precentral gyrus and right superior parietal lobule (close to, but not directly in areas associated with EC). Together, early bilingual children manifest relative differences in GMV, and, surprisingly, these do not diverge much from those observed in studies of bilingual adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison K. Schug
- Center for the Study of Learning, Department of PediatricsGeorgetown University Medical CenterWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
- Interdisciplinary Program in NeuroscienceGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Edith Brignoni‐Pérez
- Center for the Study of Learning, Department of PediatricsGeorgetown University Medical CenterWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
- Interdisciplinary Program in NeuroscienceGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Nasheed I. Jamal
- Center for the Study of Learning, Department of PediatricsGeorgetown University Medical CenterWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Guinevere F. Eden
- Center for the Study of Learning, Department of PediatricsGeorgetown University Medical CenterWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
- Interdisciplinary Program in NeuroscienceGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
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Jin Y, Fan X, Xu X, Pan N, Jing J, Song X, Tan S, Guo X, Li X. The Differences in Structure and Function of the Cerebellum Between Cantonese-Mandarin Bilinguals and Mandarin Monolinguals: a Multi-model MRI Study. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022:10.1007/s12311-022-01433-0. [PMID: 35718855 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01433-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The effects of the long-term bilingual experience on structure and function of the cerebellum remain unclear. To explore whether there are differences in cerebellar gray matter structure between Cantonese-Mandarin bilinguals and Mandarin monolinguals and whether these different cerebellar structures have different resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) with the cerebrum between the two groups, 30 Cantonese-Mandarin bilingual and 30 Mandarin monolingual college students were scanned by the T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resting-state functional MRI. Voxel-based morphology (VBM) analysis and RSFC analysis were used to analyze the cerebellar gray matter volume (GMV) and cerebellar-cerebro functional connectivity, respectively. Correlation analysis was performed between GMV/RSFC and the rapid automatized naming (RAN) and cognitive control. Compared to Mandarin monolinguals, Cantonese-Mandarin bilinguals showed larger GMV in bilateral cerebellar inferior posterior lobe (including bilateral VIIIa, VIIIb,IX, and right X, Vermis VIIIb, and Vermis IX) and a significant increase in RSFC coupling of the right inferior cerebellar posterior lobe with orbital part of left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). In addition, there was a positive correlation between average response time (RT) of Mandarin alphanumeric RAN and RSFC between the right inferior posterior lobe of cerebellum and left IFG of all participants. The long-term Cantonese-Mandarin bilingual experience can increase the GMV of the bilateral cerebellar inferior posterior lobe and the RSFC between the right inferior cerebellar posterior lobe with orbital part of left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuying Jin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Fan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Xiaoyu Xu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Ning Pan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Jin Jing
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Xiaojing Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Si Tan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Xuning Guo
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Xiuhong Li
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
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Chaudhary S, Zhornitsky S, Chao HH, van Dyck CH, Li CSR. Cerebral Volumetric Correlates of Apathy in Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitively Normal Older Adults: Meta-Analysis, Label-Based Review, and Study of an Independent Cohort. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 85:1251-1265. [PMID: 34924392 PMCID: PMC9215906 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Affecting nearly half of the patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), apathy is associated with higher morbidity and reduced quality of life. Basal ganglia and cortical atrophy have been implicated in apathy. However, the findings have varied across studies and left unclear whether subdomains of apathy may involve distinct neuroanatomical correlates. OBJECTIVE To identify neuroanatomical correlates of AD-associated apathy. METHODS We performed a meta-analysis and label-based review of the literature. Further, following published routines of voxel-based morphometry, we aimed to confirm the findings in an independent cohort of 19 patients with AD/mild cognitive impairment and 25 healthy controls assessed with the Apathy Evaluation Scale. RESULTS Meta-analysis of 167 AD and 56 healthy controls showed convergence toward smaller basal ganglia gray matter volume (GMV) in apathy. Label-based review showed anterior cingulate, putamen, insula, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and middle temporal gyrus (MTG) atrophy in AD apathy. In the independent cohort, with small-volume-correction, right putamen and MTG showed GMVs in negative correlation with Apathy Evaluation Scale total, behavioral, and emotional scores, and right IFG with emotional score (p < 0.05 family-wise error (FWE)-corrected), controlling for age, education, intracranial volume, and depression. With the Mini-Mental State Examination scores included as an additional covariate, the correlation of right putamen GMV with behavioral and emotional score, right MTG GMV with total and emotional score, and right IFG GMV with emotional score were significant. CONCLUSION The findings implicate putamen, MTG and IFG atrophy in AD associated apathy, potentially independent of cognitive impairment and depression, and suggest potentially distinct volumetric correlates of apathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shefali Chaudhary
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Herta H Chao
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Cancer Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christopher H van Dyck
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Liu C, Jiao L, Timmer K, Wang R. Structural brain changes with second language learning: A longitudinal voxel-based morphometry study. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2021; 222:105015. [PMID: 34520976 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2021.105015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The underlying mechanisms that adapt with L2 learning are still poorly understood. The present longitudinal study examined the effects of L2 learning on grey matter structure of Chinese college freshmen majoring in English. Participants were scanned twice, one year apart. Our voxel-based morphometry analyses revealed that gray matter volume (GMV) decreased in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) after L2 learning for one year. Critically, these structural adaptations correlated with changes in participants' language control ability across L2 learning. Moreover, age of acquisition of L2 was a significant predictor of volumetric change in the left ACC and L2 proficiency was a significant predictor of volumetric change in the right IFG. Overall, these findings enrich our understanding of the dynamic nature of structural brain adaptations, and the mechanisms these adaptations index, as a function of classroom L2 learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Liu
- Department of Psychology, Normal College & School of Teacher Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Jiao
- Department of Psychology, Normal College & School of Teacher Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Kalinka Timmer
- Psychology of Language and Bilingualism Lab, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Ruiming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
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7
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Jafari Z, Perani D, Kolb BE, Mohajerani MH. Bilingual experience and intrinsic functional connectivity in adults, aging, and Alzheimer's disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1505:8-22. [PMID: 34309857 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The past decade marked the beginning of the use of resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) imaging in bilingualism studies. This paper intends to review the latest evidence of changes in RSFC in language and cognitive control networks in bilinguals during adulthood, aging, and early Alzheimer's disease, which can add to our understanding of brain functional reshaping in the context of second language (L2) acquisition. Because of high variability in bilingual experience, recent studies mostly focus on the role of the main aspects of bilingual experience (age of acquisition (AoA), language proficiency, and language usage) on intrinsic functional connectivity (FC). Existing evidence accounts for stronger FC in simultaneous rather than sequential bilinguals in language and control networks, and the modulation of the AoA impact by language proficiency and usage. Studies on older bilingual adults show stronger FC in language and frontoparietal networks and preserved FC in posterior brain regions, which can protect the brain against cognitive decline and neurodegenerative processes. Altered RSFC in language and control networks subsequent to L2 training programs also is associated with improved global cognition in older adults. This review ends with a brief discussion of potential confounding factors in bilingualism research and conclusions and suggestions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Jafari
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Daniela Perani
- Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Nuclear Medicine Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Bryan E Kolb
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Majid H Mohajerani
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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