Hemispheric language dominance in children demonstrated by functional magnetic resonance imaging

The objective of this study was to demonstrate hemispheric language dominan ce in normal children. Fifteen normal children were evaluated with function al magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using an age-related silent word spelli ng paradigm. The data were analyzed with the cross-correlation method, and lateralization indices were calculated in language regions as determined by Talairach coordinates. Activation foci were detected in the left inferior frontal area and were strongly lateralized, with language lateralization in dices of 0.74 +/- 0.21 (age 7-12 years, nine subjects), and 0.79 +/- 0.18 ( 13-18 years, six subjects). The indices were similar to those for adults (0 .83 +/- 0.21, four subjects). Our study established that language is strong ly lateralized to the left hemisphere in children as young as 7 years of ag e.