Stanford Brain Imaging Study

A study conducted at the Stanford University School of Medicine used brain imaging to predict which teenagers with dyslexia would improve their reading skills overtime. This is a unique study because it is the first to identify specific brain mechanisms involved in a person’s ability to overcome reading difficulties.

The study showed that dyslexics who relied upon a specific part of their brain (the right inferior central gyrus) more heavily in reading had greater improvements over a two-and-a-half year period than those who didn’t. Additionally, seeing activation patterns across the brain allowed the researchers to predict future reading gains in children with dyslexia.

This study is exciting not only because it links specific brain functions with dyslexia, but also because it could show new avenues for intervention. Researchers and educators could focus interventions that engage the appropriate regions of the brain, which could make for more effective improvements in a child’s reading skills.

Furthermore, the researchers hope that this study will eventually lead to further studies that will enhance the understanding and treatment of dyslexia, as well as other disorders.