Increased left prefrontal activation during an auditory language task in adolescents born preterm at high risk

Although individuals born preterm are at risk for cognitive dysfunction, few studies have examined functional brain reorganization in these individuals. We used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to examine cortical reorganization related to preterm birth. Thirty-one adolescents systemically selected from a longitudinal study on child development based on gestational age, birth weight and medical complications (full term, low risk preterm, high-risk preterm) performed real-word and non-word auditory rhyme tasks during MEG recording. Equivalent current dipoles were localized every 4 ms during the 50- to 250-ms period following the onset of the auditory stimulus. The association between the number of dipoles (NODs) and birth group, language task, latency and phonological skills was examined. Adolescents born preterm at high risk demonstrated a greater NODs in the left Broca's and prefrontal areas combined, left cingulate gyrus and left superior temporal gyrus and a fewer NODs in the right superior temporal gyrus as compared to those born preterm at low risk and term. A greater NODs in the left Broca's and prefrontal areas combined and fewer NODs in the left cingulate gyrus was associated with better phonological skills only in adolescents born preterm at high risk. These results suggest that the language networks are reorganized in adolescents born preterm at high risk. Increased prefrontal activity has also been seen in adolescents born preterm during a reading task and in young adults with a history of dyslexia who are well compensated for their disorder. We suggest that this increased prefrontal activation may represent increased top–down control of weak posterior language networks.