Brain Activity of Young and Adult Hebrew Speakers during Lexical Decision Task: fNIR Application to Language

The process of reading activates a large-scale neural network which includes different cortical brain regions. This network is thought to be age-dependent and changes throughout the process of reading acquisition. The frontal lobe is considered to be related to higher, executive, functions. We conducted a functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIR) study in order to compare frontal lobe performance during a Lexical Decision Task (LDT) among two different age-groups: children and adults. Data indicated significant differences with age in LDT behavioral performance, and brain activity in the upper left frontal lobe. The young group exhibited slower reaction times and lower accuracy in addition to differences both in the level of blood oxygenation as well in the blood oxygenation timeline. The current study's results suggest 1) the involvement of the frontal lobe during the process of reading and that 2) frontal lobe activity is modified with the age of maturity.