F-Mri Correlates Of Single-Word Reading In Arabic Bilinguals

Background: The neuronal networks subserving reading and semantic processing of English words in English bilinguals have been investigated, at times showing differences between networks serving each language. Such neuroimaging studies are lacking in Arabic-speakers. Objective: identifying the differences in fMRI neural activation when reading Arabic words in comparison to reading English words in bilingual individuals. Methods: fMRI of healthy, Arabic/English bilingual adults during a single-word reading task. Forty Arabic words were presented singly alternating in a block design. Forty English words were subsequently similarly presented. Functional imaging data were pre-processed and analyzed using version 6 of FEAT, the FMRI Expert Analysis Tool in FSL 5.0.7 (FMRIB, Oxford, UK; http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl). Result: Seventeen participants (9 females) were recruited. Mean age = 37.68 (SD ±10.56). Two participants were left-handed. The left angular gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, right angular gyrus and left ceberellum were significantly more activated when participants read Arabic words than when they read English words. The occipital poles, thalami, left insula, Broca’s area, precentral gyrus, and orbitofrontal cortical regions were significantly more activated when participants read English words than when they read Arabic words. Discussion: Our study shows differences between neuronal networks serving reading of Arabic words in comparison to reading English words in Arabic-English bilinguals. It may be that reading Arabic words activated semantic networds more robustly than reading English words in our participants. Meanwhile, reading English words activated the sensorimotor aspects of language processing more robustly. Limitations and future studies: Our study is limited by a large variation in the age of our participants, the presence of 2 left-handed participants, variable English proficiency and the lack of accompanying behavioural testing. Future studies are needed to elucidate the neuronal networks subserving reading in monolingual and bilingual Arabic speakers to overcome the present limitations. Disclosure: Dr. Tayeb has nothing to disclose. Dr. Al-Ghamdi has nothing to disclose. Dr. AlShaer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Al-Safi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Al-Sawwaf has nothing to disclose.