Development of Neural Systems for Reading in the Monolingual and Bilingual Brain: New Insights From Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy Neuroimaging

Abstract

What neural changes underlie reading development in monolingual and bilingual children? We examined neural activation patterns of younger (ages 6–8) and older (ages 8–10) children and adults to see whether early-life language experience influences the development of neural systems for reading. Using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy, we observed an age-related shift in neural recruitment of language areas (left inferior frontal gyrus [LIFG], superior temporal gyrus [STG]). Bilinguals showed a greater extent and variability of neural activation in bilateral IFG and STG, and higher cognitive areas (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, rostrolateral prefrontal cortex). This bilingual “neural signature” reveals the extent that neural systems underlying reading development can be modified through differences in early-life language experience.