Occupation-modulated language networks and its lateralization: A resting-state fMRI study of seafarers

Huijun Wu; Deyuan Peng; Hongjie Yan; Yang Yang; Min Xu; Weiming Zeng; Chunqi Chang; Nizhuan Wang

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2023.1095413

Occupation-modulated language networks and its lateralization: A resting-state fMRI study of seafarers

Front Hum Neurosci. 2023 Mar 13:17:1095413. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1095413. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Huijun Wu¹, Deyuan Peng¹, Hongjie Yan², Yang Yang³, Min Xu⁴, Weiming Zeng⁵, Chunqi Chang^{1

6}, Nizhuan Wang⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
² Department of Neurology, Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Lianyungang, China.
³ CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Center for Brain Science and Learning Difficulties, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
⁴ Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
⁵ Lab of Digital Image and Intelligent Computation, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China.
⁶ Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China.
⁷ School of Biomedical Engineering, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have revealed that the language network of Broca's area and Wernicke's area is modulated by factors such as disease, gender, aging, and handedness. However, how occupational factors modulate the language network remains unclear.

Methods: In this study, taking professional seafarers as an example, we explored the resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the language network with seeds (the original and flipped Broca's area and Wernicke's area).

Results: The results showed seafarers had weakened RSFC of Broca's area with the left superior/middle frontal gyrus and left precentral gyrus, and enhanced RSFC of Wernicke's area with the cingulate and precuneus. Further, seafarers had a less right-lateralized RSFC with Broca's area in the left inferior frontal gyrus, while the controls showed a left-lateralized RSFC pattern in Broca's area and a right-lateralized one in Wernicke's area. Moreover, seafarers displayed stronger RSFC with the left seeds of Broca's area and Wernicke's area.

Discussion: These findings suggest that years of working experience significantly modulates the RSFC of language networks and their lateralization, providing rich insights into language networks and occupational neuroplasticity.

Keywords: functional magnetic resonance imaging; language network; lateralization; occupation; occupational neuroplasticity; seafarers.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61971289 and 82001160), the Shenzhen Fundamental Research Project (No. JCYJ20170412111316339), the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions (2019SHIBS003), the Shenzhen Talent Peacock Plan (No. 827-000083), the Project of Huaguoshan Mountain Talent Plan–Doctors for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the “Haiyan Plan” Scientific Research Funding Project of Lianyungang City (No. 2017-QD-009), and the First People’s Hospital of Lianyungang–Advanced Technology Support Project (No. XJ1811).