Functional MRI of task switching in children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI)

Neurocase. 2006 Feb;12(1):71-9. doi: 10.1080/13554790500507032.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine executive functioning in children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) using functional MRI. Six children with SLI and seven control children participated in this study and received a task-switching paradigm. No specific deficit in executive control was observed at the behavioral level in children with SLI. However, the neuroimaging data did show remarkable differences between the SLI and control children. The children with SLI recruited frontal and cingulate areas, normally associated with executive control, even when the task did not require them in the children without SLI. This might indicate that the task was more demanding for the SLI group and that compensatory mechanisms were engaged for successful task performance.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology*
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Language Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Language Disorders / physiopathology
  • Language Tests
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Mental Processes / physiology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Reference Values