Objective To analyze the prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation patterns during visuospatial working memory tasks in children with developmental dyslexia (DD) and their correlation with dyslexic symptoms, so as to provide neuroimaging evidence for the differential diagnosis of DD. Methods From May to June 2024, a screening for DD was conducted among all third- to fifth-grade students at a primary school in Xinjiang.Based on parental consent and handedness, 33 children with DD were enrolled and matched 1∶1 with typically developed (TD) controls by grade, age, and sex.Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was employed to measure concentration changes of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) in the PFC during visuospatial working memory tasks to reflect cortical activation.Dyslexic symptoms were assessed using the Diagnostic Checklist for Chinese Children (DCCC).Group differences in HbO2 β-values were analyzed using independent samples t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests, while Spearman correlation examined relationships between prefrontal cortex activation and dyslexic symptoms in DD children. Results The fNIRS results revealed significantly lower HbO2 β-values in the DD group compared to controls in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (channel 8: t=2.134), orbitofrontal cortex (channel 13: Z=2.860), and frontopolar cortex (channel 14: t=2.212) (P<0.05).Additionally, the total score of the DCCC scale and the scores of its 8 factors were significantly higher in the DD group than those in the normal control group (Z=6.983, 6.626, 6.986, 6.941, 6.358, 6.915, 6.710, 6.864, 6.876, P<0.001).Negative correlations were observed between HbO2 β-values in the frontopolar cortex (channel 14) and scores on visual perception (r=-0.430) and writing impairment (r=-0.438) subscales (P<0.05). Conclusions Children with DD have deficits in visuospatial working memory, mainly manifested in insufficient activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, orbito frontal cortex and fronto polar cortex.The frontopolar cortex may serve as a potential biomarker for auxiliary DD diagnosis.
Key words
developmental dyslexia /
visuospatial working memory /
functional near-infrared spectroscopy /
children
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