PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
15-Apr-2014
Contact: Karen Teber km463@georgetown.edu Georgetown University Medical Center
WASHINGTON In the first known study of its kind, researchers have shown that the language we learn as children affects brain structure, as does hearing status. The findings are reported in the Journal of Neuroscience.
While research has shown that people who are deaf and hearing differ in brain anatomy, these studies have been limited to studies of individuals who are deaf and use American Sign Language (ASL) from birth. But 95 percent of the deaf population in America is born to hearing parents and use English or another spoken language as their first language, usually through lip-reading. Since both language and audition are housed in nearby locations in the brain, understanding which differences are attributed to hearing and which to language is critical in understanding the mechanisms by which experience shapes the brain.
"What we've learned to date about differences in brain anatomy in hearing and deaf populations hasn't taken into account the diverse language experiences among people who are deaf," says senior author Guinevere Eden, D.Phil., director for the Center for the Study of Learning at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC).
Eden and her colleagues report on a new structural brain imaging study that shows, in addition to deafness, early language experience English versus ASL impacts brain structure. Half of the adult hearing and half of the deaf participants in the study had learned ASL as children from their deaf parents, while the other half had grown up using English with their hearing parents.
"We found that our deaf and hearing participants, irrespective of language experience, differed in the volume of brain white matter in their auditory cortex. But, we also found differences in left hemisphere language areas, and these differences were specific to those whose native language was ASL," Eden explains.
The research team, which includes Daniel S. Koo, PhD, and Carol J. LaSasso, PhD, of Gallaudet University in Washington, say their findings should impact studies of brain differences in deaf and hearing people going forward.
"Prior research studies comparing brain structure in individuals who are deaf and hearing attempted to control for language experience by only focusing on those who grew up using sign language," explains Olumide Olulade, PhD, the study's lead author and post-doctoral fellow at GUMC. "However, restricting the investigation to a small minority of the deaf population means the results can't be applied to all deaf people."
More:
Brain anatomy differences between deaf, hearing depend on first language learned
- Anatomy of a Fly - SIFF 2009 Fly Documentary - Video - January 14th, 2013 [January 14th, 2013]
- Grey's Anatomy Sneak Peek 9.11 - The End is the Beginning is the End (6) - Video - January 15th, 2013 [January 15th, 2013]
- Anatomy of the sangeet! - Video - January 18th, 2013 [January 18th, 2013]
- Go Anatomy for iPad - Video - January 19th, 2013 [January 19th, 2013]
- Grey's Anatomy - Callie and Arizona "We don't have to move yet" 9x16 - Video - February 22nd, 2013 [February 22nd, 2013]
- Imaging of Petrous bone anatomy (Sep 2013) - Dr Mamdouh Mahfouz (In Arabic) - Video - January 14th, 2014 [January 14th, 2014]
- Anatomy in the Yahoo! Directory - January 21st, 2014 [January 21st, 2014]
- Let's Play Minecraft - Episode 87 - Geoff's Anatomy - Video - January 26th, 2014 [January 26th, 2014]
- Cat Anatomy Pg. 25 Lab Notes - Video - February 2nd, 2014 [February 2nd, 2014]
- Spinal Pathways Tracts Part 1 Introduction Anatomy Tutorial - Video - February 9th, 2014 [February 9th, 2014]
- Galway health app firm joins US academy - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy season 10 episode 18 airs tonight: Power through - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy Recap: A Vicious Viral Infection Puts Everyone At Risk - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Grey's Anatomy Recap: "You Be Illin'" - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy season 10, episode 19 stills show Cristinas big moment - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Review: 'Your Inner Fish' on PBS imparts smart human anatomy lesson - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Fantastically Creepy Images and Tales From The Morbid Anatomy Anthology - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Step Brothers- Anatomy Movements - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Matt Lloyd: Anatomy of a $315k / Month Business - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Guitar Anatomy | Minute Music School - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Anatomy Mnemonics - Chapter 3 : Nervous System - DoctorKC - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Bates Motel: Anatomy of a Scene: Bradley Shoots Gil (S2) - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- Innovation at Stanford Anatomy - Video - April 9th, 2014 [April 9th, 2014]
- The science of anatomy is undergoing a revival - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Grey's Anatomy: Will Alex Really Leave Grey Sloan Memorial? - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy season 10 episode 19 airs tonight: A major award - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Anatomy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- anatomy man 3d visual effects - Video - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Talk about human anatomy - part 1 - Video - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Bootstraps - I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Video - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy Recap: Cristinas Career Hits A Major Milestone - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy season 10, episode 20 stills, synopsis: Trouble in paradise? - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Anatomy - New World Encyclopedia - Info:Main Page - New ... - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- anatomy (biology) -- Encyclopedia Britannica - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Jean Sives ITEC Anatomy and Physiology Testimonial - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Grey Text Anatomy - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- The Devil Wears Prada - Anatomy (HD GUITAR COVER) - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- 'Joe' | Anatomy of a Scene w/ Director David Gordon Green | The New York Times - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- 'Fame' by Mree (Grey's Anatomy 10x19) - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Tessa Ferrer Joins the Cast of Extant! Grey's Anatomy Cast-Off Books New Gig on CBS' Summer Series - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Captain America Winter Soldier | Anatomy of a Movie - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Grey's Anatomy After Show Season 1 Episode 13 "I'm Winning" | AfterBuzz TV - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Spoiler Chat: Scoop on Grey's Anatomy, Orphan Black, The Mindy Project, The Blacklist and More - April 16th, 2014 [April 16th, 2014]
- Anatomy of a recall - April 16th, 2014 [April 16th, 2014]
- NBME Shelf Exam - Case Files Series App - Anatomy - Video - April 16th, 2014 [April 16th, 2014]
- Radius and ulna - Anatomy tutorial (Preview) | Kenhub - Video - April 16th, 2014 [April 16th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy Season 10 Spoilers: Finale Teases Traumatic Ending; Will Cristina Yang Be Killed Off In Episode 24? - April 17th, 2014 [April 17th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy season 10, episode 20 airs tonight: Having faith - April 17th, 2014 [April 17th, 2014]
- (WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS) Game of Thrones Season 4: Anatomy of a Scene - The Royal Wedding (HBO) - Video - April 17th, 2014 [April 17th, 2014]
- Heart anatomy - Video - April 17th, 2014 [April 17th, 2014]
- Heart anatomy 3 Left & Right pulmonary veins, ascending aorta, left common carotid - Video - April 17th, 2014 [April 17th, 2014]
- Heart anatomy 2 tricuspid valve, bicuspid valve - Video - April 17th, 2014 [April 17th, 2014]
- Flash Brain Anatomy Review - Video - April 17th, 2014 [April 17th, 2014]
- Anatomy of the 2014 Birdathon - April 18th, 2014 [April 18th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy Season 10 Spoilers: Episode 23 And 24 Titles Leaked Online; Song-Based Titles Gives Fans Clues Of ... - April 18th, 2014 [April 18th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy Recap: Does Cristina Yang Win The Harper-Avery Award? - April 18th, 2014 [April 18th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy season 10, episode 20 recap: Making mistakes - April 18th, 2014 [April 18th, 2014]
- Grey's Anatomy Recap: "Go It Alone" - April 18th, 2014 [April 18th, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy: April & Jackson Need To Make Their Marriage Work - April 18th, 2014 [April 18th, 2014]
- Grey's Anatomy Music Season 10x20 Aron Wright Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Video - April 18th, 2014 [April 18th, 2014]
- Grey's Anatomy Cast - How To Save A Life - Video - April 19th, 2014 [April 19th, 2014]
- ReVamp - The Anatomy Of A Nervous Breakdown: On The Sideline - Philly 2014 - Video - April 19th, 2014 [April 19th, 2014]
- Twisted Mind Anatomy - Don't Run Away EP - Video - April 19th, 2014 [April 19th, 2014]
- Anatomy of a Landscape trailer - Video - April 19th, 2014 [April 19th, 2014]
- Advanced Anatomy - Video - April 19th, 2014 [April 19th, 2014]
- anatomy study - Video - April 21st, 2014 [April 21st, 2014]
- |An anatomy of a Rabbit - Video - April 21st, 2014 [April 21st, 2014]
- Grey's Anatomy 10x21 "Change Of Heart" - Farewell to Cristina - ABC HD promo #1 - Video - April 21st, 2014 [April 21st, 2014]
- Anatomy of Cosplay: LIVE Q&A (with Sam & Mae!) - Video - April 21st, 2014 [April 21st, 2014]
- DJ Tennis - Anatomy (North Lake Remix) - Video - April 21st, 2014 [April 21st, 2014]
- ITEC Anatomy & Physiology Testimonial by Kerry Howard - Video - April 21st, 2014 [April 21st, 2014]
- The anatomy of a sexuality class - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Human body - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- 'Fading Gigolo' | Anatomy of a Scene w/ Director John Turturro | The New York Times - Video - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Guitar Anatomy - Part 1 - Video - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Anatomy Scan At 19Weeks 3Days - Video - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Grey's Anatomy After Show Season 10 Episode 20 "Go It Alone" | AfterBuzz TV - Video - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Grey's Anatomy 10x21 Promo | Grey's Anatomy Season 10 Episode 21 Promo| Grey's Anatomy S10E21 Promo - Video - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Greys Anatomy Season 10 Spoilers: Cristina Yang To Make A Life Or Death Decision In Episode 21; Who Will She Save ... - April 24th, 2014 [April 24th, 2014]
- Cristina Yang Quotes To Remember Sandra Oh After 'Grey's Anatomy' Departure - April 24th, 2014 [April 24th, 2014]