Abstract
Diffusion-weighted imaging studies have repeatedly shown that white matter correlates with reading throughout development. However, the neurobiological interpretation of this relationship is constrained by the limited microstructural specificity of diffusion imaging. A critical component of white matter microstructure is myelin, which can be investigated noninvasively using MRI. Here, diffusion-weighted as well as myelin water imaging were applied to examine the links of myelin water fraction (MWF) with fractional anisotropy (FA; a common diffusion index) and reading ability in 10-year-old children (n = 69). The results replicate previous reports on a positive relationship between FA and MWF, which is significant in dorsal but not ventral tracts. Moreover, our findings revealed a negative correlation between word reading and MWF in left reading-related white matter tracts. Altogether, this study contributes important insights into the role of myelin-related processes in the relationship between reading and white matter structure.
Myelin Water Fraction in Relation To Fractional Anisotropy and Reading in 10-Year-Old Children
