Landmark College: Nadine Gaab, PhD, The Typical and atypical reading brain: How neurobiological framework of reading development can inform educational practice and policy

Handouts-Can go to the site and download the one related to the course(s) I attend.

www.gaablab.com
www.babymri.org

Went to listen to her on Sunday as well.  Lots of debunking in regards to programs like Lumosity, Cogmed and (you guys will love this) that sugar exacerbates ADHD.

Side Note:  About done with my jet lag.

I.  Timeline of typical reading development

1. in utero is when it begins
2. Reading sentences by kindergarten
3. Second to fifth grade when large changes take place

Looked at the predictors such as letter name knowledge and other indicators, also brought up the importance of parental language during shared reading and having lots of books read to kids.    Our brain is not made to read and we need to repurpose it in order to read.  

In Utero the brain makes huge growth in size and gyrification.  

Frontal lobe CEO of the brain.  

Parietal Lobe multi-modal processing

Structural MRI  ( the difference between different types of tissues like white vs. gray matter)vs. Functional MRI (measures O2 use difference between stimulated and non-stimulated tissue)

Is there learning without the brain

• There is no learning without the brain!

Typical reading network with its key components

• fusiform gyrus-letters words alphabets
• superior temporal lobe
• angular/supramarginal gyri
• inferior frontal gyrus

Highways that connect learning in the brain-Arcuate Fasciculus 

• Gets stronger and bigger as an adult as you learn to read
• basically, build more highways

665 of U.S. fourth graders not reading at age level

What is developmental dyslexia?

• 10-12% of children
• A textbook definition which can be looked up.  

Other consequences 

• Some depressed or anxious
• need to have remediation

Stats on this: 

50% chance if in the famil

75% chance if both parent

Several genes make you susceptible...not going to have it just because you have the gene

In the posterior regions if there are problems elements of dyslexia may appear

There is both functional gray matter differences as well as oxygen use differences in those with dyslexia.   Also reduced integrity in areas of the brain.  

Corpus Callosum is stronger in those with dyslexia

She feels it's a multi-deficit model that causes dyslexia.  

Has been shown that the "right" intervention can (using an FMRI) show improvement in brain functions.    Increased activity in Frontal and Temporoparietal lobes.  Also Neural changes following remediation in adult developmental dyslexia.   

• Does this last?  She compared it to going to the gym and then stopping after the summer. 
• Some need more and some need less  

The dyslexia paradox

• You have to fail before you can get intervention
• There is a "window" in which a diagnosis for most effective intervention should take place. 
• Most effective intervention should take place in kindergarten and first grade
• However, the brain can also improve later in life too with proper remediation 
• Screen early and identify

Early behavioral predictors of dyslexia

• phonological awareness/short-term memory/rapid naming/expressive vocab/pseudoword rep/letter naming

Lower activation in posterior (O2 take-up) in the brain correlated to dyslexia and can be identified.  

Structural brain alternation associated with dyslexia predate reading instruction

The typography is predetermined by your genetics, but the extent of the sulca patterns can be correlated to reading ability.  

The Read Study

• Researching early attributes of dyslexia

Compensatory Mechanisms 

• You may have a genetic disposition, but many don't develop reading problems
• Despite the genetic and cognitive risk factors, only 1/2 of FHD  children subsequently developed LD. 
• More activation in the right hemisphere for those kids who improved (not sure if that was due to genetics or training)
• Functional connectivity-those who had better connectivity from the right to left hemisphere did much better
• CC (Corpus Callosum)-functional differences can be found in this area of the brain... those who can better facilitate the right hemisphere were more successful.  
• Maybe home literacy or a better instructional approach helped to improve this.  

Does growing up in a slum change your brain in comparison to the middle-class family?  She has done this research.  

Designing a Dyslexia Screening App

• There is a project to address this
• App can be given in 30 minutes
• Dyslexia is a neurobiological disorder
• You can prevent many implications if you screen early
• She has a screening battery for K1/K2
• Intervention has to target with evidenced-based teaching
• Could do this in the Pediatrician's offices, many other areas noted

Note: Cuts to NIH will impact this program...

Dyscalculia screening research is also ongoing.  

*Note: She has an ongoing research program in the Boston area.  You can bring your young child there to be involved in this program.