This study examines changes in the Visual Word Form Area in dyslexic and typical readers over time, finding persistent abnormalities despite reading intervention.

Nature Communications · Dec 10, 2025Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Assessing white matter plasticity in a randomized controlled trial of early literacy training in preschoolers

Sendy Caffarra, Iliana I. Karipidis, John Kruper, Emily C. Kubota, Adam Richie-Halford, Megumi E. Takada, Ariel Rokem, Jason D. Yeatman

This study examines the effects of two-week reading training on preschoolers' letter knowledge, decoding skills, and white matter structure, finding skill improvements without significant white matter changes.

PLoS ONE · Mar 19, 2025Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Reading instruction causes changes in category-selective visual cortex

Jason D. Yeatman, Daniel McCloy, Sendy Caffarra, Maggie D. Clarke, Suzanne Ender, Liesbeth Gijbels, Sung Jun Joo, Emily C. Kubota, Patricia K. Kuhl, Eric Larson, Gabrielle E. O’Brien, Erica R. Peterson, Megumi E. Takada, Samu Taulu

This study shows that reading instruction in preschool children changes category-selective visual cortex responses without reducing responses to other stimuli.

Brain Research Bulletin · Apr 25, 2024Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Neuroplasticity associated with changes in conversational turn-taking following a family-based intervention

Rachel R. Romeo, Julia Leonard, Hannah Grotzinger, Sydney T. Robinson, Megumi E. Takada, Allyson P. Mackey, Ethan Scherer, Meredith L. Rowe, Martin R. West, John D. E. Gabrieli

This study examines how a family-based intervention affecting conversational turn-taking influences neuroplasticity and language development in young children.

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience · May 26, 2021Peer-reviewedNeuroscience