Abstract Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by limitations in learning, understanding, and using language. MRI studies are very limited and it remains unknown to what degree the brain network supporting language is impacted in this disorder. In this context, we aimed to use Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) to quantify levels of GABA + co-edited macromolecules (internally referenced to total creatine, i.e., "GABA+/tCr") in the left inferior frontal cortex in 14 children with DLD and 19 typically-developing (TD) children. We further 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.
Doucet et al. (Thu,) studied this question.