The Effects Of Chinese Word Acquisition On Reading Networks At Rest

The reading network of the human brain is a very complicated structure framework, and neuroimaging analysis technologies promote the exploration of its function and structure. This article around the application of fMRI in brain science research, consider data research method in resting state as the breakthrough point. According to the result of previous meta-analysis on word reading to choice 9 regions of interest, we chose literates (10) and illiterates (11) as the research subjects. In this thesis, we found Chinese character acquisition has effects on resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) pattern between various regions in phonetic and semantic pathways.Firstly, models of positive RSFC were consistent with models of task-based activity and functional connectivity associated with word reading in literates and illiterates. Low frequency fluctuation of visual word form area (VWFA) is significantly related with a large number of cortical regions. The RSFC patterns of VWFA in Chinese illiterates were consistent with patterns in literates, but the strength of the functional connectivity is different between two groups. The areas mainly included the inferior frontal gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, bilateral precuneus, bilateral precentral gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, etc. Results showed that strength of functional connectivity between VWFA and other language related area in literates is much stronger than illiterates. We also calculated the functional connectivity between each region of interest, and also found that the functional connectivity strength in Chinese literates was stronger than illiterates. Especially the RSFC between left basal temporal and other reading related regions is much higher than illiterates.Secondly, we tested the performance of 1 minute reading words in literates, and examined the correlations between reading competence and RSFC of regions implicated in reading. Reading scores correlated positively with RSFC between VWFA and right fusiform gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus, bilateral postcentral gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, left angular gyrus, etc. This suggests that with the enhancement of reading ability, the functional connectivity strength between reading related regions increase accordingly.Finally, we use FreeSurfer extracted the cortex thickness, area and volume of each read relevant brain areas, the results show that the cortex thickness of the fusiform gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus in literates was significantly thicker than the cortex of illiteracy.This paper discusses the functional organization of reading areas in subjects with different reading abilities. Together, our task-independent RSFC findings literacy acquisition has a positive impact to the function of the cerebral cortex and promotes the development of brain function.