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Planum Temporale Asymmetry: In-Vivo Morphometry Affords a New Perspective for Neuro-Behavioral Research

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Reading Disabilities

Part of the book series: Neuropsychology and Cognition ((NPCO,volume 4))

Abstract

High-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging today allows the in vivo quantification of the surface area of the cortex covering the planum temporale and permits assessment of the direction and degree of individual left-right asymmetry of this structure. This méthodologie advance is promoting new studies on the biological mechanisms of anatomic and functional lateralization and on the structural accompaniments of disorders such as developmental dyslexia. It is important to stress that studies must agree on the definition and measurement of planum asymmetry, and we review our definition and its justification in the present article.

Data obtained from normal subjects supported the assumption that planum (asymmetry underlies functional lateralization. Thus, familial sinistrality predicted for symmetry of the planum in all eight left-handers studied. The pattern of planum symmetry in the normals was similar to that found in the post mortem studies of dyslexic individuals. Insofar as hand preference and developmental dyslexia are in part genetically transmitted, we suggest that planum symmetry may represent an inherited condition as well. Further more, even though planum symmetry is part of the anatomic substrate of developmental dyslexia, it is unlikely that it represents a form of developmental anatomic pathology.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstr. 5, D-4000, Düsseldorf 1, Germany

    Helmuth Steinmetz

  2. Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Albert M. Galaburda

  3. Neurological Unit and Charles A. Dana Research Institute, Beth Israel Hospital, 330 Brookline Avenue, 02215, Boston, MA, USA

    Albert M. Galaburda

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  1. Helmuth Steinmetz
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  2. Albert M. Galaburda
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Denver, USA

    Bruce F. Pennington

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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Steinmetz, H., Galaburda, A.M. (1991). Planum Temporale Asymmetry: In-Vivo Morphometry Affords a New Perspective for Neuro-Behavioral Research. In: Pennington, B.F. (eds) Reading Disabilities. Neuropsychology and Cognition, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2450-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2450-8_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5081-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-2450-8

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