Beta synchrony for expressive language lateralizes to right hemisphere in development

A left perisylvian network is known to support language in healthy adults. Low-beta (13–23 Hz) event-related desynchrony (ERD) has been observed during verb generation, at approximately 700–1200 ms post-stimulus presentation in past studies; the signal is known to reflect increased neuronal firing and metabolic demand during language production. In contrast, concurrent beta event-related synchrony (ERS) is thought to reflect neuronal inhibition but has not been well studied in the context of language. Further, while low-beta ERD for expressive language has been found to gradually shift from bilateral in childhood to left hemispheric by early adulthood, developmental lateralization of ERS has not been established. We used magnetoencephalography to study low beta ERS lateralization in a group of children and adolescents (n = 78), aged 4 to less than 19 years, who performed covert verb generation. We found that the youngest children had bilateral ERD and ERS. By adolescence, low-beta ERD was predominantly left lateralized in perisylvian cortex (i.e., Broca’s and Wernicke’s regions), while beta ERS was predominantly right lateralized. Increasing lateralization was significantly correlated to age for both ERD (Spearman’s r = 0.45, p < 0.01) and ERS (Spearman’s r = − 0.44, p < 0.01). Interestingly, while ERD lateralized in a linear manner, ERS lateralization followed a nonlinear trajectory, suggesting distinct developmental trajectories. Implications to early-age neuroplasticity and neuronal inhibition are discussed.