Neuroelectric Correlates of a Neuropsychological Model of Word Decoding and Semantic Processing in Reading Disabled Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to distinguish the characteristics and components of event related potentials (ERPs) correlated with word decoding and semantic processing in a subgroup of children with specific reading disabilities related to visual processing deficiencies. The results were compared with those obtained from a group of normal readers previously studied (Ostrosky et al. in press). Visual ERPs were recorded to four stimuli: three physically different but with the same semantic content: a frequently used noun written in capitals (COCHE), the same noun in handwriting, the pictorial representation of the noun (drawing), and a neutral stimulus consisting of a checkerboard. Four derivations were used: occipital (O1-O2) and parietal (P3-P4) with reference to linked mastoids. Data were analyzed using multivariate procedures. A Principal Component Analysis with Varimax rotation of the solution was applied.

In the normal readers, we found some components in the occipital derivations which identified the words presented in different styles of handwriting and others which seemed to identify these words with the pictorial representation (and not with the neutral stimuli). The first “verbal” components were situated around the 156–256 ms latency range and the second “semantic” components were observed at over 380 ms.

In the disabled readers, there was no “verbal” or “semantic” recognition grouping of these physically different stimuli. As opposed to the normal readers, interhemispheric responses were symmetrical. At the left parietal leads in the normal readers, the morphology of the verbal stimuli (capitals and handwriting) were very similar throughout the sweep and both were very different from the nonverbal stimuli. At 376 ms the four stimuli elicited a prominent negative peak in which the verbal stimuli elicited significantly higher amplitude than the nonverbal stimuli. In the disabled group, the morphologies of the four stimuli were very similar and no significant differences were observed.

The results are discussed in accordance with a hypothetical model of the neural bases underlying reading. The model takes into account the complexity of the reading process and the various cognitive skills required for its adequate performance, and emphasizes a complex, dynamic interplay between occipital, parietal and temporal areas.

Key Words:

• evoked potentials
• word processing
• reading disabled