An fMRI study of auditory responsive naming in children

The objective of the present study was to test the activation pattern of an auditory language task in 9 children (5 girls, mean age 8.7 years) and 24 adults (11 women, mean age 28.3). Participants alternately rested and listened to descriptors of nouns presented aurally and named the object silently. We analyzed the group and individual data with Statistical Parametric Mapping Software (SPM) and regions of interest, respectively. In the child group analysis, we found activation primarily in the left temporal lobe. Individual analysis showed additional activation of the left frontal lobe. Asymmetry indices showed strong left lateralization. Hemispheric lateralization was demonstrated clearly in 8 children. We found similar areas of activation in the adult population, with only one significant difference between the groups in number of activated voxels in Wernicke's region. This task appears useful in determining hemispheric lateralization in anterior and posterior regions of the brain.