Early gray-matter and white-matter concentration in infancy predict later language skills: A whole brain voxel-based morphometry study

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scans were obtained from 19 infants at 7 months. Expressive and receptive language performance was assessed at 12 months. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) identified brain regions where gray-matter and white-matter concentrations at 7 months correlated significantly with children’s language scores at 12 months. Early gray-matter concentration in the right cerebellum, early white-matter concentration in the right cerebellum, and early white-matter concentration in the left posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC)/cerebral peduncle were positively and strongly associated with infants’ receptive language ability at 12 months. Early gray-matter concentration in the right hippocampus was positively and strongly correlated with infants’ expressive language ability at 12 months. Our results suggest that the cerebellum, PLIC/cerebral peduncle, and the hippocampus may be associated with early language development. Potential links between these structural predictors and infants’ linguistic functions are discussed.

► VBM identified links between brain anatomy at 7 m and language skills at 12 m. ► WM concentration in the cerebellum and PLIC correlated with receptive language. ► GM concentration in the cerebellum correlated with receptive language. ► GM concentration in the hippocampus correlated with expressive language. ► The cerebellum, hippocampus, and PLIC may contribute to early language development.