Brain in Speed Reading of Japanese: Insights from fMRI and voxel-based morphometry
Poster No:
817
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Thishuli Walpola1, Seina Yoshida1, Iso Ichiro2, Atsushi Senoo1
Institutions:
1Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan, 2Base Prep.School, Tokyo, Japan
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Speed reading is an effective technique for efficiently acquiring information or knowledge through swift reading (Nishi Y, 2005). This study aims to focus on the specific neural connectivity changes associated with speed-reading a script of ´Japanese´ and to examine the volume alterations resulting from speed-reading training.
Methods:
The study sample was recruited randomly as a total of twenty-three ((male: female; 16: 7), mean age 24.5 ± 7.1 and dominant hand (right: left; 21:2)) in the speed-reading training group, and six ((male: female; 5: 1), mean age 22.3 ± 1.5 and dominant hand (right: left; 6:0)) in the control group. Both groups underwent two MRI scans; the first was the baseline scan, and the second was the follow-up scan of the same protocol, each at one-month intervals. All subjects were healthy native Japanese. The training group was trained to read fast during the one-month interval by an expert fast-reading teacher. Image acquisitions of 3D-T1W1 and fMRI, sequence for fMRI: GRE EPI TR: 1000(ms) TE: 30(ms), FOV:220 (mm), matrix: 64X64, characters per task block: 320-350. The BOLD signal was acquired using five runs of 30s rest blocks followed by 60s task blocks of Japanese characters. A simple 'Japanese' novel was used for covert reading inside the MRI scanner (3.0 T SIGNA Premier). Reading speed was measured by dividing the number of characters read by the time taken. The connectivity results were analyzed using the CONN toolbox (Matlab R2023b). The ROI-to-ROI analysis was performed. Paired tests were performed for each group, and multiple comparison correction was applied using the false discovery rate (p-FDR corrected) and p<0.05 to indicate statistical significance. The DARTEL-based voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was performed using the SPM12 software. Jacobean determinant and modulation was applied to get more accurate volume changes associated with speed reading training.
Results:
According to the Wilcoxon signed rank testing in IBM SPSS statistics version 29.0.2.0., the text reading speed of the training group showed a significant increase from 798 ± 470 to 3816 ± 1504 cpm (characters per minute) (p<0.05) respectively in their follow-up and the baseline-scans. However, the control group did not show a significant difference between their baseline and the follow-up scans, showing the cpm values as 1214 ± 720 and 1211 ± 729, respectively. The cranial nerve functional connectivity significantly increased between the ROIs of the Left supra calcarine cortex (SCC) and left occipital fusiform gyrus in the follow-up of the training group than their baseline. In addition to that, the left SCC and left cuneus showed increased connectivity with the left VIth cerebellum. When considering the brain networks, the visual occipital network, along with the posterior fusiform gyrus and occipital pole, showed a decreased connectivity pattern with the right Heschl's gyrus and superior temporal gyrus. In the speed-reading training group, the brain cortical volume significantly increased from 11.52±1.02 mm3(Mean± Std.) to 11.71±0.96 mm3 in the left posterior cerebellum and from 3.523±0.29 mm3 to 3.562±0.30 mm3 in the right rectus gyrus.
·Figure 1_ROI-to-ROI connectivity map showing changes after speed reading
·Figure 2- The increased areas of cortical volume in four planes A- The left posterior cerebellar cortex, B- The right rectus gyrus
Conclusions:
The four-fold increase in the reading speed of Japanese characters concluded that this training method can be utilized as an effective method of improving fast learning strategies. The brain regions of increased connections suggest that there are strong connections between the visual input areas related to saccadic eye movements (Ferguson MA, 2014). Further, the reduced connectivity patterns highlight that the recombination of connections in the right reading-related areas may have been altered (Binder, 1996). The VBM results suggest that speed reading training promotes synapse formation in the left posterior cerebellum and the rectus gyrus and increases the cerebral cortical volume to activate processing abilities such as semantic memory and cognition in reading (Fulbright RK, 1999).
Language:
Language Comprehension and Semantics
Reading and Writing 1
Language Other
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
fMRI Connectivity and Network Modeling 2
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
BOLD fMRI
Keywords:
ADULTS
Cognition
Cortex
FUNCTIONAL MRI
Language
Neurological
NORMAL HUMAN
Other - Reading
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
Abstract Information
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Please indicate below if your study was a "resting state" or "task-activation” study.
Healthy subjects only or patients (note that patient studies may also involve healthy subjects):
Was this research conducted in the United States?
Were any human subjects research approved by the relevant Institutional Review Board or ethics panel? NOTE: Any human subjects studies without IRB approval will be automatically rejected.
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Provide references using APA citation style.
Ferguson, M. A., Nielsen, J. A., & Anderson, J. S. (2014). Altered resting functional connectivity of expressive language regions after speed reading training. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 36(5), 482–493.
Fulbright, R. K., Jenner, A. R., Mencl, W. E., et al. (1999). The cerebellum's role in reading: A functional MR imaging study. AJNR American Journal of Neuroradiology, 20(10), 1925–1930.
Nishi, Y. (2005). Development of a speed-reading training program for elementary school students and its effectiveness. Japan Journal of Educational Technology, 28, 25–28. (in Japanese)