Hemispheric Asymmetry Profiles During Beginning Reading: Effects of Reading Level and Word Type

Abstract

We evaluated how right- and the left-temporal lobe activation of first (1^st LR), second (2^ndLR), and third (3^rdLR) level readers (N = 60; Age = 6–9 years) varied with reading level, word characteristics, and cognitive abilities by using electroencephalogram measurements while the children read high-frequency/high-imageability, high-frequency/low-imageability, and nonsense words. The ANOVA showed significant interaction effects: 1^stLR had greater right-hemispheric activation than 3^rdLR, who had greater left-hemispheric activation; for nonsense words, 1^stLR had lower left-hemisphere activation than that of 2^ndLR and 3^rdLR. The electroencephalogram (EEG) measure of hemispheric asymmetry indicated a developmental effect on lateralized activity in the temporal lobes of beginning readers during word reading.

Notes

^a N = 20 for each group.

^b N = 60.

*p < .05;

**p < .01;

***p < .0001.