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Language and communication in children with agenesis of the corpus callosum

Vanessa Siffredi1, 2, 3*, Alissandra McIlroy1, 2, Vicki Anderson1, 2, 4, Richard Leventer1, 2, 4, Amanda Wood5 and Megan M. Spencer-Smith1, 6
  • 1 Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Australia
  • 2 The University of Melbourne, Australia
  • 3 The University of Geneva, Switzerland
  • 4 The Royal Children's Hospital, Australia
  • 5 University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
  • 6 Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

Background
Expressive and receptive language are predominantly processed by the left hemisphere. Interhemispheric transfer is important for the integration of linguistic and communication related information. The corpus callosum, the largest white matter pathway connecting the two cerebral hemispheres, plays a crucial role in the transfer and integration of language and communication information across hemispheres. Developmental absence (agenesis) of the corpus callosum (AgCC) is a congenital brain malformation resulting from disruption of corpus callosum formation. This study aims to: 1) describe language and communication skills in children with AgCC; and 2) examine the role of general intellectual ability, brain structure (partial or complete AgCC; intactness of anterior and posterior commissures) and clinical factors (presence of seizure disorder, genetic condition) as predictors of language and communication abilities.
Methods
Fifteen children with AgCC (partial n=8, complete n=7) aged 8 to 15 years (M= 12.03, SD=2.16) were recruited. Language (receptive and expressive skills), general intellectual and communication abilities were estimated using standardised measures. Brain MRI was reviewed using a standardised coding system.
Results
Preliminary analysis showed that children with AgCC performed below the test mean on all measures: expressive (p=.001), receptive (p=.001), communication (p=.005). There was some variability in language and communication skills: communication ratings were higher than expressive language scores (p=.015), which were higher than receptive language scores (p=.016). A series of regressions showed that general intellectual ability predicted expressive language scores (p=.001), and approached significance for receptive language scores (p=.064). Intactness of the corpus callosum predicted communication ratings (p=.043), with complete AgCC associated with poorer outcomes. Clinical factors and intactness of anterior and posterior commissures were not significantly associated with language and communication abilities.
Discussion
Language and communication abilities are reduced in children with AgCC. Contrary to expectations, children with AgCC showed better communication than language abilities, with greatest difficulties in expressive language. General intellectual ability predicted language but not communication abilities. The intactness of the corpus callosum predicted communication but not language abilities.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program; by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; and by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

Keywords: Agenesis of the Corpus callosum, Language, Communication, MRI, developmental neuropsychology

Conference: ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia, 28 Nov - 1 Dec, 2013.

Presentation Type: Oral

Topic: Language

Citation: Siffredi V, McIlroy A, Anderson V, Leventer R, Wood A and Spencer-Smith MM (2013). Language and communication in children with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Conference Abstract: ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2013.212.00151

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Received: 15 Oct 2013; Published Online: 25 Nov 2013.

* Correspondence: Ms. Vanessa Siffredi, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia, vanessa.siffredi@mcri.edu.au