engleski

Neural correlates of early language development: The development of Broca` region

Background To study morphological development of inferior frontal gyrus and its cytoarchitectonic areas BA 44 and 45 (Broca`s region) and to correlate qualitative and quantitative findings with major in early language development, as well as with possible functions of that area in prelinguistic/linguistic period. Methods We analyzed 35 human brains (Zagreb Neuroembryological Collection, Croatian Institute for Brain Research) ranging in age from 8. postconceptional weeks to 15 postnatal years. In the quantitative part of study, the total of 27.142 neurons were measured on digitalized Nissl- stained sections by ImageJ software (N.I.H.). Results Morphological development of perisylvian cortex (including Broca`s and Wernicke`s regions) is quiet advanced at birth, but continues long afterwards. Major changes in the cytoarchitectonics (development of characteristic size ratios of pyramidal cells in different layers of the cortex ; magnopyramidality) arise between 7, 5 and 14 months postnataly, which coincides greatly with major milestones in early language development – the beginning of language-specific perception and production, language comprehension, babbling and the appearance of first words. Conclusion Dramatic changes in architecture and neural connections of Broca`s region occur in parallel with intensive language development.

brain development; Broca; cytoarchitectonics; language & speech production

nije evidentirano