FREE CALT Neurobiology of Reading and Dyslexia Questions and Answers

Question 1

Neuroimaging studies of individuals with dyslexia often show underactivation in which posterior brain region during reading tasks?

Accepted Answer

The left occipito-temporal region

Answer

The right prefrontal cortex

Answer

The hippocampus

Answer

The cerebellum

Question 2

In the typical reading brain, what is the primary function of Broca's area, located in the left inferior frontal gyrus?

Accepted Answer

Phonological processing and verbal articulation of words.

Answer

Processing the visual features of letters and words.

Answer

Storing long-term memories of stories.

Answer

Accessing the meaning (semantics) of words.

Question 3

What does fMRI research reveal about the brains of individuals with dyslexia following intensive, evidence-based reading intervention?

Accepted Answer

There is increased activation in left-hemisphere posterior reading systems.

Answer

No significant changes occur in brain function, as dyslexia is a permanent condition.

Answer

The brain permanently shifts all reading functions to the right hemisphere.

Answer

Overall brain activity decreases as reading becomes easier.

Question 4

The 'Double-Deficit Hypothesis' of dyslexia posits that an individual's reading difficulty is most severe when they have weaknesses in both:

Accepted Answer

Phonological awareness and rapid automatized naming (RAN).

Answer

Visual acuity and auditory processing.

Answer

Working memory and verbal comprehension.

Answer

Executive function and attention.

Question 5

Which brain region acts as a crucial hub for linking the visual representation of a word (graphemes) with its sound structure (phonemes)?

Accepted Answer

The angular gyrus

Answer

The amygdala

Answer

The motor cortex

Answer

The brainstem

Question 6

How does the neurobiology of dyslexia provide a rationale for using a Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) approach?

Accepted Answer

It demonstrates that the brain's reading pathways are weak and benefit from explicit, multimodal instruction to be strengthened.

Answer

It proves that dyslexia is caused by poor vision and can be corrected with eye exercises.

Answer

It suggests that individuals with dyslexia learn best through incidental, discovery-based learning.

Answer

It indicates that reading intervention is only effective when delivered via computer software.