Visual processing of words and faces in beginning readers of Polish.
Chyl K.
Details:
Learning to read impacts the way the visual ventral occipitotemporal cortex (VOT)
reorganises. Postulated mechanism of neuronal recycling was recently revisited, and
initially, weekly specialised voxels for other visual stimuli processing keep their initial
category selectivity while acquiring an additional and stronger responsivity to written
words. I will present the data from the first time point of the longitudinal study, where
72 6-year old children performed an experiment composed of different visual
categories (words, symbols, faces, houses) in the rapid adaptation fMRI paradigm.
Using univariate and multivariate methods, we found that the response for words is
growing along with reading development, but it does not affect face processing in the
bilateral VOT ROIs. Moreover, our paradigm included the rapid adaptation condition,
and I will discuss the findings also in the context of the specificity of the adaptation
deficit as a neural marker of dyslexia.
Oral speech accepted at Neuronus Neuroscience Forum, 15-18.10.2022, Kraków, Poland.
The self and a close-other: how does processing of faces and newly acquired information differ?
Żochowska A., Jakuszyk P., Nowicka M., Nowicka A.
Details:
Self-related information (e.g. self-face) are preferentially processed and this phenomenon may be driven
by its extreme familiarity. However, the findings of numerous behavioral studies reported a self-
preference for initially unfamiliar information, arbitrarily associated with the self. In this study, the neural
underpinnings of extremely familiar stimuli (self-face, close- other’s face) and stimuli newly assigned to
one’s own person and to a close-other (abstract shapes) were investigated. Control conditions consisted
of unknown faces and unknown abstract shapes. P3 amplitude to the self- face was larger than to close-
other’s and unknown faces. Nonparametric cluster-based permutation tests showed significant clusters
for the self-face vs. close-other’s face and self- face vs. unknown faces comparisons. Nevertheless, in
the case of shapes P3 amplitude to the self-assigned shape and P3 amplitude to the shape assigned to
the close-other were similar, and both were larger than P3 to unknown shapes. No cluster was detected
for the self- assigned shape when compared with the shape assigned to the close-other. We suggest this
lack of differences may be mainly driven by similar attentional biases to self-assigned shapes and
shapes assigned to the close-other. This study was funded by the National Science Centre Poland, grant number 2018/31/B/HS6/00461 awarded to Anna Nowicka.
Poster presentation at Neuronus Neuroscience Forum, 15-18.10.2022, Kraków, Poland.
The development of the orthography-phonology integration in the occipitotemporal cortex and its relation to the reading acquisition.
Dębska A.
Details:
The left ventral occipitotemporal cortex (VOT) is considered to host orthographic
representations of words. Even though it was studied in visual word processing,
there is evidence of multimodal engagement of the left VOT in spoken language
processing. It is supposed to facilitate the integration of phonological and
orthographical representations needed for effective reading acquisition. To
investigate the development of the left VOT involvement in spoken language
processing and its relation to reading ability, we tested 45 Polish children at the
beginning of formal literacy acquisition and two years later. During fMRI, children had
to decide whether two auditory words start with the same sound, if they rhyme or if
they are identical. Univariate and multivariate approaches showed an increase in the
integration process with the time of schooling. The most relevant integration
processes occur on the smallest grain size of processing in agreement with the high
transparency of Polish orthography.
Oral speech accepted at Neuronus Neuroscience Forum, 15-18.10.2022, Kraków, Poland.
Investigating Neural Noise in Dyslexia Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (fMRS) and EEG Power Spectrum.
Glica A., Wasilewska K.
Details:
Dyslexia is a developmental disorder characterized by a specific difficulty in learning
to read and write that cannot be explained by a low intellectual level or incorrect
teaching methods at school. According to the neural noise hypothesis, dyslexia is a
consequence of disturbance in synaptic transmission. In particular, an imbalance
between main excitatory (glutamate) and main inhibitory neurotransmitter (GABA) is
assumed – specifically with elevated glutamate concentrations in dyslexia. However,
experimental data verifying this hypothesis is still missing. During our talk, we will
present results from our study in which we tested the neural noise hypothesis in
dyslexia in adolescents and young adults (aged 15-24) using two methods. First, a
direct measure of neurotransmitters’ concentrations in the course of reading words
(i.e., functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy, fMRS), and second, an indirect
indicator of excitatory to inhibitory neurotransmitters’ ratio (i.e., 1/f signal from EEG
power spectrum).
Oral speech accepted at Neuronus Neuroscience Forum, 15-18.10.2022, Kraków, Poland.
The effect of inter-letter spacing on reading performance and eye movements in typically reading and dyslexic children.
Łuniewska, M., Wójcik, M., & Jednoróg, K.
Details:
Oral speech accepted at 15th Congress of the International Association for the Study of Child Language (date to be announced), Philadelphia, USA.
Brain response to linguistic stimuli in late talkers with and without developmental dyslexia
Kacprzak A., Chyl K., Dębska A., Dzięgiel-Fivet G., Łuniewska-Etenkowska M., Plewko J., Haman E., Jednoróg K.
Details:
Oral speech accepted at 15th Congress of the International Association for the Study of Child Language (date to be announced), Philadelphia, USA.
Self-face and emotional faces – are they similarly processed? June 21, 2021, 1 p.m. - June 26, 2021, 1 p.m.
Anna Zochowska, Maria M. Nowicka, Anna Nowicka
Details:
Humans possess a highly-elaborated representation of their own image. Previous research focused
on the extreme familiarity of the self-face as a driving factor of the prioritised processing of this
stimulus. However, the self-face differs from other faces not only in respect of its familiarity but
also in respect of its emotional significance. Therefore, in this ERP study, we aimed at elucidating
the role of the emotional load factor in preferential processing of the self-face. The self-face,
emotionally positive, emotionally negative faces as well as neutral faces (control condition) were
presented to 30 participants. The inclusion of emotionally positive (i.e. happy) faces was based on
the well-documented the self-positivity bias whereas the inclusion of emotionally negative (i.e.
fearful) faces was justified by the saliency of these stimuli. Participants’ task was the simple
detection of faces. Two ERP components (P300, LPP) were analysed. Results clearly indicated that
processing of the self-face was associated with significantly increased amplitudes of both P300 and
LPP in comparison to all other faces: fearful, happy, and neutral (all Ps < 0.001). Thus, these
findings strongly suggest that electrophysiological correlates of the self-face processing do not
resemble those of emotional – either positive or negative – faces, implying that self-referential
processing is truly reflective of self.
This research was funded by the National Science Centre Poland (Grant No. 2018/31/B/HS6/00461).
Implicit Learning – a search for the non-linguistic source of decreased literacy skills
Wójcik M., Chyl K., Dynak A., Dzięgiel-Fivet G., Łuniewska M., Plewko J., Jednoróg K., Dębska A.
Details:
Poster presentation at the 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping.
Engagement of the Visual Word Form Area in phonological processing and its relations to the acquisition of reading
Dębska, A., Chyl, K., Kacprzak, A., Łuniewska, M., Jednoróg, K.
Details:
Poster accepted on Neuronus, 9-11.12.2020, Kraków, Poland
Neural network for tactile reading – similarities and differences to print reading
Dzięgiel-Fivet G., Plewko J., Szczerbiński M., Domańska K., Szwed M., Marchewka A., Jednoróg K.
Details:
Oral speech accepted on Neuronus, 9-11.12.2020, Kraków, Poland.
Letter and speech sound association in early blind children and adults
Plewko J., Dzięgiel G., Szczerbiński M., Szwed M., Marchewka A., Jednoróg K.
Details:
Oral speech accepted on Neuronus, 9-11.12.2020, Kraków, Poland.
How visual experience shapes the language network?
Jednoróg K.
Details:
Oral speech at Winter Conference on Neural Plasticity, 8-12.02.2020, St. Kitts & Nevis.
W poszukiwaniu przyczyn dysleksji
Dębska, A.
Details:
Lecture on Brainstorm conference, 26.10.2019, Warsaw, Poland
Visual crowding effects in typical and dyslexic readers
Łuniewska, M., Wójcik, M., & Jednoróg, K.
Details:
Oral presentation on IWORDD 2019 International Workshop on Reading and Developmental Dyslexia, 2-4.10.2019, San Sebastian, Spain.
The self-reference effect: neural correlates of encoding and retrieval
Nowicka A., Nowicka M., Wójcik M., Bola M.
Details:
Poster presented on 59th Annual Meeting Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill, 25-29.09.2019, Washington, DC, USA.
Alterations in print specific brain circuits and in print-speech convergence associated with the isolated spelling impairment and dyslexia
Dębska, A., Chyl, K., Dzięgiel, G., Kacprzak, A., Łuniewska, M., Plewko, J., Marchewka, A., Jednoróg, K.
Details:
Poster presentend on Neurons in Action conference, 11-13.09.2019, Warsaw, Poland
The influence of early language delay and dyslexia on brain anatomy
Kacprzak A., Chyl K., Dębska A., Dzięgiel G., Kossowski B., Łuniewska M., Plewko J., Haman E., Jednoróg K.
Details:
Poster presented on Neurons in Action, 11-13.09.2019, Warsaw, Poland.
Universal signature of emerging reading: Evidence from two contrasting languages
Chyl, K., Kossowski, B., Wang, S., Dębska, A., Łuniewska, M., Pugh, K., Mencl, W., van der Bunt, M., Jednoróg, K
Details:
Poster presented on Neurons in Action conference, 11-13.09.2019, Warsaw, Poland
Letter and speech sound association in early blind and sighted adults
Plewko J., Dzięgiel G., Szczerbiński M., Domańska K., Szwed M., Marchewka A., Jednoróg K.
Details:
Poster presented during 25th Organisation for Human Brain Mapping Annual Meeting, 9-13.06.2019, Rome, Italy
Brain circuit for word processing differentiate children with distinct reading and spelling deficits
Dębska, A., Chyl, K., Dzięgiel, G., Kacprzak, A., Łuniewska, M., Plewko, J., Marchewka, A., Grabowska, A., Jednoróg, K.
Details:
Oral speech at Human Brain Mapping, 9-13.06.2019, Rome, Italy
Self-reference effect in memory: the role of encoding and retrieval stages
Nowicka M., Wójcik M., Bola M. Nowicka A.
Details:
Poster presented during 25th Organisation for Human Brain Mapping Annual Meeting, 9-13.06.2019, Rome, Italy
The development of the neuronal network for tactile reading and speech processing in early blind
Dzięgiel G., Plewko J., Szczerbiński M., Domańska K., Szwed M., Marchewka A., Jednoróg K.
Details:
Poster presented during Organization for Human Brain Mapping Meeting, 9-13.06.2019, Rome, Italy
Neuroanatomy of elementary school late talking children
Kacprzak A., Chyl K., Dębska A., Dzięgiel G., Kossowski B., Łuniewska M., Plewko J., Grabowska A., Haman E., Jednoróg K.
Details:
Poster presented during Organization for Human Brain Mapping Meeting, 9-13.06.2019, Rome, Italy
Reading acquisition in children: developmental processes and dyslexia specific effects
Chyl., K., Dębska, A., Łuniewska, M., Kossowski B, Marchewka A., Pugh, K., Jednoróg, K
Details:
Poster + short speech on Capturing Developmental Brain Dynamics conference, 15-18.04.2019, Leiden, Netherlands.
Long lasting consequences of late time of speech emergence and developmental dyslexia for neuronal processing of speech and print
Kacprzak A., Kossowski B., Chyl K., Dębska A., Dzięgiel G., Łuniewska M., Plewko J., Haman E., Jednoróg K.
Details:
Poster + oral presentation on European Workshop on Cognitive Neuroscience, 26-31.01.2020, Bressanone, Italy. (abstract attached in the URL below)
More information
Brain reorganization following reading acquisition in children
Jednoróg K.
Details:
Oral speech at Winter Conference on Neural Plasticity, 9-16.02.2019, Moorea, Tahiti.
Lateralization of brain activation during tactile reading in blind children and adults
Dzięgiel G., Plewko J., Szczerbiński M., Domańska K., Szwed M., Marchewka A., Jednoróg K.
Details:
Poster presented on Child Brain conference, 5-7.02.2019, Leuven, Belgium.
Reading acquisition in children: developmental processes and dyslexia specific effects
Chyl., K., Dębska, A., Łuniewska, M., Kossowski B, Marchewka A., Pugh, K., Jednoróg, K.
Details:
Poster presented on Child Brain conference, 5-7.02.2019, Leuven, Belgium
Letter and speech sound association in early blind children
Plewko J., Dzięgiel G., Szczerbiński M., Domańska K., Szwed M., Marchewka A., Jednoróg K.
Details:
Poster presented on Child Brain conference, 5-7.02.2019, Leuven, Belgium.
