Electrophysiological evidence of lateralized disturbances in children with learning disabilities

Abstract

This study used an electrophysiological measurement operation to investigate lateralized processing deficits associated with academic learning-disability subtypes. Fast frequency EEG activity in the 36–44 hertz (Hz) band was recorded from reading-disabled (RLD), arithmetic-disabled (ALD), and nondisabled control children engaged in verbal and nonverbal cognitive tasks. The control group, but neither LD group, exhibited a task-dependent shift in lateralization of 40 Hz EEG; the RLD subjects generated proportionately less left-hemisphere 40 Hz activity than control or ALD subjects during the verbal task; and the ALD subjects generated proportionately less right-hemisphere activity than control or RLD subjects during the nonverbal task. These results indicate that laterized processing deficits are associated with different types of disabilities, and provide external validation of learning-disability classifications based on academic performance patterns.