Examining the Brain Functional Connectivity Pattern of Children with Dyslexia during Rapid Naming Tasks: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Reading plays a vital role in school success and low reading ability is closely linked to low academic achievement as faced by individuals with dyslexia. This preliminary study examines the brain functional connectivity pattern of a child with dyslexia during the reading process. EEG signals were recorded when the subject was involved in rapid automatized naming (RAN) tasks and the signals were then pre-processed to remove artifacts. Partial directed coherence (PDC) approach was used to examine the functional connectivity pattern when the subject was involved in different naming tasks and comparisons were made before, during, and after naming the stimuli presented in the tasks. Results showed activation in the occipital and temporal regions but not the inferior frontal region during the rapid naming task completion. Based on the insights from this study, a suitable intervention will be designed and implemented to cater to the children's needs in learning to read.