The Neural Signatures of Plasticity in Developmental and Early Acquired Speech, Language and Reading Disorders

Different developmental and early acquired speech, language and reading disorders such as stuttering, childhood dysarthria and apraxia of speech, preschool language disorders, dyslexia, Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorders, affect the normal development of brain regions during childhood. It is well known that during this early stage, the brain shows preprogrammed active growth and has a superior capacity for neural plasticity; the brains of children are more responsive to environmental stimuli than the brains of adults. In recent years a growing body of research has examined how in situations of early damage, the brain spontaneously recruits healthy neural networks and how these takeover regions can be modulated to promote recovery. Nevertheless, it remains to be investigated if the implementation of behavioral interventions such as intensive training combined with novel approaches (drugs, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS)), which have already provided benefits in adults with acquired speech and language deficits secondary to focal brain injury, may further strengthen and hasten recovery by stimulating adaptive plastic remodeling.

The current Research Topic welcome studies that examine: (1) the brain organization of cognitive functions including speech, language and reading skills, in the healthy and injured developing human brain; (2) the mechanisms of neural reorganization associated with developmental disorders and those disorders occurring after pre- and perinatally-acquired brain lesions of diverse origin (being born preterm, low birth weight, stroke, brain injury, cerebral palsy and so forth); (3) different strategies aimed to potentiate adaptive plasticity and discourage non-adaptive plasticity in the damaged developing brain; (4) the role of surrogate demographic, clinical and non-clinical (genetics, neuroimaging, NIBS) biomarkers in predicting spontaneous recovery and response to treatment; (5) the role of intensive therapies alone or combined with biological approaches (NIBS, drugs) in promoting better and faster recovery.

We welcome all submission formats, with emphasis on the following Frontiers Article types: Original Research, Clinical Trials, Case Reports, Mini-Reviews, Opinion, Perspectives, and Technical Reports. Manuscripts, although of an interdisciplinary nature, must have a primary focus on the impact of developmental and acquired speech-language-reading disorders on brain structure and function as well as on the role of emerging combined interventions on both behavioral outcomes and neural structure and function.