Current methods of diagnosis for developmental dyslexia rely on family history report and cognitive and language behavioral testing. However, relying on these measures alone to predict dyslexia in at-risk children can result in low sensitivity and specificity, with dyslexic individuals either being missed or over-identified. Prediction accuracy could be increased by considering structural differences in the dyslexic brain along with behavioral measures. Reduplication of Heschl’s gyrus, where the primary auditory cortex resides, has been suggested as a risk factor for developing dyslexia. The current investigation explored if differences in interhemispheric duplication patterns and gray matter volume of Heschl’s gyrus could distinguish between dyslexic and neurotypical (control) brains. A detailed labeling protocol based on macroanatomical landmarks and explicitly defined reduplication morphotypes: single Heschl’s gyrus (SH), common stem duplication (CSD), complete posterior duplication (CPD), and multiple duplication (MD) was developed. Overall, there was no significant difference in the incidence of morphotypes between control and dyslexic brains. Duplication of Heschl’s gyrus was a common occurrence in both groups. However, results suggest that the MD morphotype may occur more often in dyslexic brains. Gray matter volume of anterior Heschl’s gyrus was larger in the left hemisphere in both groups but tended to be larger overall in dyslexic brain. Results of this investigation confirmed the presence of high morphological variability between and within brains and suggest that reduplications in Heschl’s gyrus alone are not enough to designate between neurotypical and dyslexic brains. It is likely that developmental dyslexia has heterogeneous origins, and it is possible that increased gyrification combined with other structural differences is one possible origin.

The interrelationships between brain, cognition, and behaviour are complex but can be more clearly characterised by studying disorders with an underlying genetic basis. This thesis examined these interrelationships in the context of Williams syndrome (WS), a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder that affects aspects of cognition, behaviour, and brain structure. The principal aims of this thesis were to evaluate the cognitive, behavioural, and neuroanatomical profile of WS individuals and to explore the relationships between aspects of the cognitive and behavioural profile and the neuroanatomical changes that are evident in WS. Three general hypotheses, and 10 specific hypotheses, were postulated as a means of exploring these aims. The first general hypothesis predicted that WS individuals would demonstrate distinct features within their cognitive and behavioural profile. Specifically, it was predicted that WS individuals would show relative strengths on verbal tasks and significant deficits on visuospatial and mathematical tasks, in contrast to control participants who were predicted to show a more even profile. It was also predicted that WS individuals would show evidence of heightened affect in response to music and demonstrate hypersociability as compared to control participants

The interrelationships between brain, cognition, and behaviour are complex but can be more clearly characterised by studying disorders with an underlying genetic basis. This thesis examined these interrelationships in the context of Williams syndrome (WS), a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder that affects aspects of cognition, behaviour, and brain structure. The principal aims of this thesis were to evaluate the cognitive, behavioural, and neuroanatomical profile of WS individuals and to explore the relationships between aspects of the cognitive and behavioural profile and the neuroanatomical changes that are evident in WS. Three general hypotheses, and 10 specific hypotheses, were postulated as a means of exploring these aims. The first general hypothesis predicted that WS individuals would demonstrate distinct features within their cognitive and behavioural profile. Specifically, it was predicted that WS individuals would show relative strengths on verbal tasks and significant deficits on visuospatial and mathematical tasks, in contrast to control participants who were predicted to show a more even profile. It was also predicted that WS individuals would show evidence of heightened affect in response to music and demonstrate hypersociability as compared to control participants

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La phénoménologie, portant à l’expression une intuition eidétique de la spécificité de l’expérience musicale nourrie de la pratique quotidienne de l’instrument et de la fréquentation des œuvres du répertoire classique, doit pouvoir exercer, dans le dialogue avec les neurosciences, une double fonction : critique et positive. D’une part, elle est un révélateur des erreurs de catégorie des récents programmes de réduction de la musique, tantôt aux émotions de base, tantôt à la structure dynamique de la perception du temps, tantôt à un langage de communication non verbale. D’autre part, elle nous a servi à réorienter la recherche vers les conditions neurophysiologiques de l’immersion dans l’univers spirituel de Brahms (et des autres compositeurs) par projection intropathique d’une auto-affection kinesthésique, mettant l’écoute mélomane en résonance avec les tensions et relaxations musculaires du corps musicien accomplissant les gestes producteurs du «son musical». L’auteure, pianiste et chef d’orchestre, retirant l’enseignement philosophique de sa participation à l’équipe de neurophysiologistes du professeur Fadiga de l’Université de Ferrare, dont les travaux ont abouti à la publication d’un critère quantitatif de la «driving force» du chef d’orchestre applicable au jugement esthétique, pose les fondements d’une nouvelle eidétique kinesthésique de l’incarnation, l’empathie, l’intersubjectivité et la noématique musicale. L’anticipation, propriété fondamentale du vivant pour le physiologiste, la protention, structure de distensio animi de la conscience du temps pour le philosophe, sont à la base d’un principe technique intuitivement connu des grands chefs d’orchestre. / By giving expression to an eidetic intuition of the specificity of musical experience enriched by the daily practice of the instrument and familiarity with works from the classical repertoire, phenomenology, in its dialogue with the neurosciences, has to be able to fulfill a double function: both critical and positive. On the one hand, it brings to light the category mistakes inherent in recent programs seeking to reduce music either to basic emotions or else to the dynamic structure of the perception of time or again, to a non-verbal language of communication. On the other hand, it has made it possible for us to reorient ongoing research in the direction of an investigation of the neurophysiological conditions underlying the immersion into the spiritual universe of Brahms (and other composers), and this by way of an intropathic projection of a kinaesthetic auto-affection, establishing a resonance between the music-lovers auditive appreciation and the muscular tensions and relaxations of the musician body accomplishing the gestures productive of his ‘musical sound’. The author, a pianist and orchestral conductor, wants to lay the foundations for an eidetic investigation of our kinaesthetic experience of embodiment, of empathy, of intersubjectivity and of a musical noematics. The present work draws the philosophical lessons of her participation in a team of neurophysiologists, led by Professor Fadiga of the University of Ferrara, whose work led to the recent publication of a quantitative criterion of the driving force of conducting applicable to aesthetic judgment. Anticipation, one of the most fundamental properties of all living being for the physiologist, along with distensio animi, the structure of time consciousness for the philosopher, both lie at the root of a technical principle intuitively comprehended by the world’s great orchestral conductors.