Figure 3.

The regression results of pre-reading functional connectivity strength on long-term reading achievement. A. PCA on the six reading assessments revealed one major component (eigenvector 1), which explained 78.9% of the total variance. B. A linear regression analysis revealed that the LIPC-LpOTC connection strength estimated at the pre-reading stage could significantly predict reading abilities assessed at the second or later grade (β = 1.53, p = 0.042). The predictive power of the connection strength between the LIPC and the RAG did not reach significance, but marginally significant results were observed (β = −1.62, p = 0.052). C. A leave-one-out-cross-validate analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between the real reading outcomes and the predicted values (r (26) = 0.64, p < 0.001).

LIPC: Left Inferior Parietal Cortex; LIFC: Left Inferior Frontal Cortex; LpOTC: Left Lingual Gyrus; RAG: Right Angular Gyrus.