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Abstract #0911

Is Myelin Content Associated with Early Language Development in Healthy Toddlers?

Lindsay Walker1, Irene Piryatinsky1, Jonathan OMuircheartaigh2, Douglas C. Dean III1, Michelle Han1, Katie Lehman1, Nicole Waskiewicz1, Beth A. Jerskey1, 3, Holly Dirks1, Sean C. L. Deoni1

1Advanced Baby Imaging Lab, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States; 2King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom; 3Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States

Delayed language acquisition in infants is an early clinical indicator of later language impairment. This delay may result from delayed or abnormal myelination in the language sub-serving brain networks. We measured myelin content using the mcDESPOT technique, and assessed language with the MacArthur-Bates Child Development Inventory Words and Gestures parent report in 9 toddlers aged 10-16 months. We found that language understanding was correlated with myelination in brain regions responsible for general understanding and learning; while language production was more specifically linked to Brocas area. These results indicate that myelination may be implicated in language acquisition during key developmental stages.

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Keywords

abnormal acquisition additional advanced although approximate asked assessed assessment assessments atypical autism bates beth brain briefly brown child clinical cognitive coil coincide college combination complex component connecting consistent content coordinated corpus corrected correction correlate correlated correlation cortical covariate cycling dean deep defined degrees delayed derives development developmental dirks disorders disparate early elaboration evolving example existed expressive field findings fraction frontal functional functioning general gestation head healthy hypothesis hypothesized identify impairment implicated improve increments indicate infants inhomogeneities internal inventory isotropic king language lead learning linear linearly linked male maps matched measure measured measures medical messaging model modeling months natural networks parents pathways percentile pilot pool positive precursor predicted predictive process processing produced production providence psychiatry receptive recruitment reduced relationship relationships requiring resolution responsible scales school score scores sets significance sleep sought spatially specifically specificity spoken stages statistical structure tasks template temporally termed toddlers towards trend understanding understood vocabulary walker warren white words