Understanding how children read using only one side of their brain
Official title: Plasticity of the reading brain: Insights from isolated left and right hemispheres
Funded at Mgh Institute of Health Professions · NIH-10870249 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how kids who have had surgery to remove one side of their brain learn to read using the other side, and it aims to find out what makes their brains work differently compared to kids who don’t have this experience, all to help improve teaching methods for children with reading challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mgh Institute of Health Professions NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlestown, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $160,957 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HD114969-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10870249 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have undergone hemispherectomy and are learning to read.
✕Less likely to help
Children who have not had hemispherectomy or do not have reading disabilities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how children who have had surgery to remove one hemisphere of their brain learn to read using the remaining hemisphere. By comparing their reading abilities with those of typically developing peers, the study aims to uncover the unique brain configurations that support reading in these children. The research will utilize advanced imaging techniques to assess the structural and functional aspects of the brain related to reading. This work is particularly important for enhancing educational strategies for children with acquired reading disabilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved educational interventions and support for children with reading disabilities resulting from hemispherectomy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that children can develop reading skills using a single hemisphere, indicating potential for success in this area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Mgh Institute of Health Professions
Charlestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christodoulou, Joanna — Mgh Institute of Health Professions
- Study coordinator: Christodoulou, Joanna
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.