Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the Left Inferior Frontal Cortex in Children with Developmental Language Disorder: A Pilot Study

Abstract Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by limitations in learning, understanding, and using language. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) studies are very limited, and it remains unknown to what degree the levels of GABA+ (“GABA+/tCr”) in the left inferior frontal cortex, supporting language, are impacted in this disorder. We recruited 14 children with DLD and 19 typically developing (TD) children. We also investigated the association between GABA+/tCr and language scores. Our results found a significant sex-by-group interaction, showing that male children with DLD have higher levels than the other groups. In addition, we reported a negative relationship between GABA+/tCr levels and language production scores in TD, but the inverse in children with DLD. This pilot study using MRS provides initial evidence that boys with DLD may experience upregulated inhibitory signaling and possible excitatory-inhibitory imbalance in one major brain hub supporting language function. Overall, these preliminary findings may implicate impaired inhibitory neurotransmission in the language brain system as a component of DLD.