Understanding Children's Brains
April 11, 2006
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new finding by researchers from the University of Cincinnati shows how the language area of the brain develops and the role that has on recovery from head injuries in children.
Brain imaging studies were used to give researchers a better understanding of what parts of the brain are activated when children were asked to think of a verb that goes with a specific noun they were given. The children started the study when they were 5, 6 and 7 years old and the study continued for five years.
Researchers found in younger children more areas of the brain are used to think of words. As children age, the number of active sites decreased and the area of activity became more focused on the left side of the brain.
This finding is important because it explains, in part, why young children who injure part of their brain often recover almost completely. "This raises hope for rehabilitation of brain function in children after stroke or traumatic brain injuries," study authors say.
The published study also points to the discovery of both increased and decreased activation in various parts of the brain with age. This means as children age and become more proficient with language and performing tasks, they rely less on additional systems to mediate language function.
SOURCE: Annals of Neurology, 2006;59
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