Early Phonological Neural Specialization Predicts Later Growth in Word Reading Skills
According to the Interactive Specialization Theory, cognitive skill development is facilitated by a process of neural specialization. In line with this theory, the current study investigated whether neural specialization for phonological and semantic processing at 5-to-6 years old was predictive of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2021.674119/full |
| _version_ | 1818681571970908160 |
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| author | Brianna L. Yamasaki Karla K. McGregor James R. Booth |
| author_facet | Brianna L. Yamasaki Karla K. McGregor James R. Booth |
| author_sort | Brianna L. Yamasaki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | According to the Interactive Specialization Theory, cognitive skill development is facilitated by a process of neural specialization. In line with this theory, the current study investigated whether neural specialization for phonological and semantic processing at 5-to-6 years old was predictive of growth in word reading skills 2 years later. Specifically, four regression models were estimated in which reading growth was predicted from: (1) an intercept-only model; (2) measures of semantic and phonological neural specialization; (3) performance on semantic and phonological behavioral tasks; or (4) a combination of neural specialization and behavioral performance. Results from the preregistered analyses revealed little evidence in favor of the hypothesis that early semantic and phonological skills are predictive of growth in reading. However, results from the exploratory analyses, which included a larger sample, added age at Time 1 as a covariate, and investigated relative growth in reading, demonstrated decisive evidence that variability in phonological processing is predictive of reading growth. The best fitting model included both measures of specialization within the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG) and behavioral performance. This work provides important evidence in favor of the Interactive Specialization Theory and, more specifically, for the role of phonological neural specialization in the development of early word reading skills. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:05:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c04d869a4ca2474c9294b330a722646b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:05:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-c04d869a4ca2474c9294b330a722646b2022-12-21T21:53:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612021-10-011510.3389/fnhum.2021.674119674119Early Phonological Neural Specialization Predicts Later Growth in Word Reading SkillsBrianna L. Yamasaki0Karla K. McGregor1James R. Booth2Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United StatesBoys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United StatesDepartment of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United StatesAccording to the Interactive Specialization Theory, cognitive skill development is facilitated by a process of neural specialization. In line with this theory, the current study investigated whether neural specialization for phonological and semantic processing at 5-to-6 years old was predictive of growth in word reading skills 2 years later. Specifically, four regression models were estimated in which reading growth was predicted from: (1) an intercept-only model; (2) measures of semantic and phonological neural specialization; (3) performance on semantic and phonological behavioral tasks; or (4) a combination of neural specialization and behavioral performance. Results from the preregistered analyses revealed little evidence in favor of the hypothesis that early semantic and phonological skills are predictive of growth in reading. However, results from the exploratory analyses, which included a larger sample, added age at Time 1 as a covariate, and investigated relative growth in reading, demonstrated decisive evidence that variability in phonological processing is predictive of reading growth. The best fitting model included both measures of specialization within the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG) and behavioral performance. This work provides important evidence in favor of the Interactive Specialization Theory and, more specifically, for the role of phonological neural specialization in the development of early word reading skills.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2021.674119/fullphonological processingsuperior temporal gyrusword readingreading developmentinteractive specialization theoryfunctional magnetic resonance imaging |
| spellingShingle | Brianna L. Yamasaki Karla K. McGregor James R. Booth Early Phonological Neural Specialization Predicts Later Growth in Word Reading Skills Frontiers in Human Neuroscience phonological processing superior temporal gyrus word reading reading development interactive specialization theory functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| title | Early Phonological Neural Specialization Predicts Later Growth in Word Reading Skills |
| title_full | Early Phonological Neural Specialization Predicts Later Growth in Word Reading Skills |
| title_fullStr | Early Phonological Neural Specialization Predicts Later Growth in Word Reading Skills |
| title_full_unstemmed | Early Phonological Neural Specialization Predicts Later Growth in Word Reading Skills |
| title_short | Early Phonological Neural Specialization Predicts Later Growth in Word Reading Skills |
| title_sort | early phonological neural specialization predicts later growth in word reading skills |
| topic | phonological processing superior temporal gyrus word reading reading development interactive specialization theory functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2021.674119/full |
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