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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Mar 19;20(3):e0309574.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309574. eCollection 2025.

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

Sendy Caffarra  1   2 , Iliana I Karipidis  3   4   5 , John Kruper  6   7 , Emily Kubota  8 , Adam Richie-Halford  2 , Megumi Takada  9 , Ariel Rokem  6   7 , Jason D Yeatman  2   9
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

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

Sendy Caffarra et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Reading is a cognitive skill that requires our brain to go through a myriad of changes during learning. While many studies have described how reading acquisition shapes children's brain function, less is known about the impact of reading on brain structure. Here we examined short-term causal effects of reading training on preschoolers' behavior and white matter structure. Forty-eight English-speaking preschoolers (4y10m to 6y2m) participated in a randomized controlled trial where they were randomly assigned to two training programs: the Letter training program was focused on key skills for reading (e.g., decoding and letter knowledge), while the Language training program strengthened oral language comprehension skills without exposure to text. Longitudinal behavioral data showed that only the Letter Training group increased letter knowledge and decoding skills after the two-week training. Diffusion MRI measures (FA and MD) of eighteen white matter pathways (including the left arcuate and the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus) did not reveal any statistically significant changes for either group despite high degrees of scan-rescan reliability across sessions. These findings suggest that a two-week reading training program can cause changes in preschoolers' letter knowledge and decoding abilities, without being accompanied by measurable changes in the diffusion properties of the major white matter pathways of the reading network. We conclude highlighting possible constraints (i.e., age, training onset and duration, cognitive profile) to reading-related white matter plasticity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Graphical representation of the randomized controlled trial.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Training-related behavioral changes.
First two columns: behavioral changes in alphabet knowledge from the Letter and Language Training groups for each experimental session. The third column shows the distribution of alphabet knowledge changes (i.e., difference between the individual scores obtained in the post and pre-training sessions) for each group.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Scan Rescan reliability.
The two columns show the profile and subject reliability estimates of each white matter tract examined in the study. The two rows show reliability estimates for FA and MD, respectively. ARC: Arcuate Fasciculus; ATR: Anterior Thalamic Radiation; CGC: Cingulum Cingulate; CST: Corticospinal Tract; FA: Anterior Forceps; FP: Posterior Forceps; IFO: Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus; ILF: Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus; SLF: Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus; UNC: Uncinate.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Training-related dMRI changes of the left arcuate.
First two columns: structural changes of the left arcuate are shown for the Letter and Language Training groups and each experimental session. The third column shows the distribution of FA and MD changes (i.e., difference between the individual profiles observed in the post and pre-training sessions) for each group.
Fig 5
Fig 5. FA tract profile for each experimental group and training session.
The plots show FA values estimated based on the beta coefficients extracted from node-by-node LME models. Shaded areas represent + /- 2 SE. ARC: Arcuate Fasciculus; ATR: Anterior Thalamic Radiation; CGC: Cingulum Cingulate; CST: Corticospinal Tract; FA: Anterior Forceps; FP: Posterior Forceps; IFO: Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus; ILF: Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus; SLF: Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus; UNC: Uncinate.
Fig 6
Fig 6. MD tract profile for each experimental group and training session.
The plots show MD values estimated based on the beta coefficients extracted from node-by-node LME models. Shaded areas represent + /- 2 SE. ARC: Arcuate Fasciculus; ATR: Anterior Thalamic Radiation; CGC: Cingulum Cingulate; CST: Corticospinal Tract; FA: Anterior Forceps; FP: Posterior Forceps; IFO: Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus; ILF: Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus; SLF: Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus; UNC: Uncinate.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Bayes factors relative to the group comparison of the dMRI training effect for each tract.
ARC: Arcuate Fasciculus; ATR: Anterior Thalamic Radiation; CGC: Cingulum Cingulate; CST: Corticospinal Tract; FA: Anterior Forceps; FP: Posterior Forceps; IFO: Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus; ILF: Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus; SLF: Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus; UNC: Uncinate.
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