Variations of Hemispheric Lateralisation of Language Depending of Gender and Age.

October 14, 2005 updated by: University Hospital, Tours
The purpose of this study is to determine whether gender and age modify cerebral activations during a silent word generation functional Magnetic Resonance task.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Detailed Description

Introduction : The theory of a bipolar organization of language was revised in the light of neuroimaging results and language seems to be processed in a large scale cognitive network. The organization and function of this neural network may be modified by several factors including gender and age. There is some controversy about sex differences in language according to behavioural and neuroimaging studies :

  • a small but significant difference favouring females was observed for language abilities.
  • a greater bi hemispheric functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)activation was described in females during language tasks, but Frost et al found no differences during a language comprehension task according to gender.

Age differences were mainly studied in childhood, but no consistent functional imaging data on aging are available.

Objective : To study the influence of gender and age on cortical fMRI activations during a silent semantic task.

Subjects : 48 right-handed native French-speaking subjects were included in 4 groups of 12 according to age and gender : young female (YF), Young Male (YM), Old Female (OF), and Old Male (OM). Old subjects had no Alzheimer's disease or other dementia according to their MMS score (> 26) and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria.

Method :

  • fMRI : Data were collected on a 1.5 T General Electric Signa MR scanner. Functional images covered the whole brain and were scanned using a single-shot echoplanar imaging sequence (FOV : 24 cm ¡thickness : 5 mm - 64 x 64 matrix - TE : 60 ms ¡ TR : 3s ¡ flip angle : 90°). The paradigm followed a box car design and 3 periods of activation (30 s duration) alternated with 3 periods of fixation (30s duration). During the active condition subjects had to mentally generate words corresponding to the semantic category (animals, furniture, or fruit) displayed through MR-compatible special goggles.During the control condition, they were requested to concentrate on their breathing. Data were analyzed using the FSFAST package. MR data were motion corrected using AFNI and then smoothed with a FWHM of 5 mm. The voxel intensities were rescaled such that the in-brain grand mean was 1000 for all subjects. The hemodynamic response was modeled as a gamma function (delay : 2.25 s - dispersion :1.25 s). The offset and linear drift in the BOLD signal were removed by estimating those components simultaneously with the amplitude of the hemodynamic response. A t-test was then performed on the amplitude of the hemodynamic response to determine which voxels had significant paradigm-related activity.
  • anatomical MR : Results were displayed on the inflated cortical surface for each subject. A group analysis was performed using a surface coordinate system and random model effect and General linear model using age and gender as regressors.

Study Type

Observational

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • France
      • Tours, France, 37044
        • University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • normal neurological examination
  • right handed (lateralization index greater or equal to 0.8)

Extra inclusion criteria for old subjects:

  • Mini Mental State > 26
  • no criteria for Alzheimer's disease (DSM IV and NINCDS-ADRDA)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • neurological or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (past or present)
  • contraindicate for MRI

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Defined Population
  • Time Perspectives: Other

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University Hospital, Tours

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Christophe Destrieux, MD, University Hospital of TOURS

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 14, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 14, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

October 18, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

October 18, 2005

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 14, 2005

Last Verified

July 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • PHRC-R2001

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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