Neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center have identified abnormalities in the anterior neostriatum within the basal ganglia, a region deep in the brain, which could offer insights into developmental language difficulties in children. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour and based on an analysis of 22 articles, suggest that these abnormalities in the anterior neostriatum were present in 100 percent of the studies examined, with fewer abnormalities found in other brain regions.
Lead author Michael T. Ullman, Professor of Neuroscience and director of the Brain and Language Laboratory at Georgetown, hopes that by pinpointing the neural basis of developmental language difficulties, they can raise awareness about this often overlooked disorder. However, Ullman emphasizes that further research is needed to fully understand how the anterior neostriatum contributes to language difficulties.
Ullman suggests that drugs targeting movement impairments linked to basal ganglia dysfunction, such as those acting on dopamine receptors, could potentially aid in treatment. Additionally, basal ganglia abnormalities may serve as early biomarkers, enabling early intervention.
Continued research efforts to delve into the neurobiology of developmental language disorders, particularly focusing on the role of the basal ganglia, hold promise for improving outcomes for the many children affected by these challenges, Ullman concludes.