Francoise Gelbert MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Catherine Belin MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christine Moroni PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christophe Nioche, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sabine Tranchant PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christophe Leveque MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Georges Rodesch, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Antoine Emile Scherrer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Among a population of 50 normal subjects, we selected the right handed, in order to examine the possible language lateralization asymmetries between sexes.

We analysed 4 langage tasks in 12 males and 12 females right handed normal subjects. FMRI paradigme included receptive abilities ( lexico semantic matching task ), generate abilities with a low constraint( verbal fluency task), generate abilities with high constraint ( generate names from a word in a visual task and generate a verb from a name in an auditory task). Imaging was conducted on a 1.5 T Signa MR using a single-shot echo planar (EPI).A 3D SPGR image was then acquired with the same orientation as EPI acquisition. fMRI data were preprocessed on a PC workstation using Matlab and SPM’99 . We proceeded both to individual and group statistical analysis.

Results show a strong left lateralization for both males and females for the verbal fluency and the visual generation tasks ( laterality index: 81/72 and 97/91). The two other tasks appeared to be less lateralized, specially the lexico semantic matching task which involves bilateral semantic networks. In order to investigate in detail these data, a ROI analysis is currently conducted both in individual subjects and in the two groups.

Language hemispheric lateralization appeared to be different depending, at least, on the types of tasks, which are crucial to considerate in the current debate on sex brain lateralization.

S.T.: Sabine Tranchant worked on the data acquisition and post processing while she was in biomledical engeenering last year training period in GE healhcare.

Gelbert, F, Belin, C, Moroni, C, Nioche, C, Tranchant, S, Leveque, C, Rodesch, G, Scherrer, A, et al, , Sex-related Language Lateralization in an fMRI Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4413609.html