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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Published on: April 28, 2016

Two by two: a twin study of second-language acquisition.

Philip S Dale¹, Nicole Harlaar, Claire M A Haworth

¹Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of New Mexico, 1700 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131. dalep@unm.edu

Psychological Science

|May 21, 2010

Summary

Genetic factors significantly influence second-language acquisition (SLA) in adolescents, with shared environmental influences playing a minor role. Heritability estimates for SLA are comparable to first-language acquisition.

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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

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Published on: July 13, 2019

Area of Science:

Behavioral Genetics
Developmental Psychology
Linguistics

Background:

The genetic and environmental influences on first-language acquisition are well-established.
Limited research has explored the genetic basis of second-language acquisition (SLA).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the heritability and environmental influences on SLA using a classic twin design.
To compare genetic and environmental influences on SLA with those of first-language acquisition.

Main Methods:

Analysis of teacher-assessed data from 604 pairs of 14-year-old twins.
Application of the classic twin design to measure SLA.
Multivariate behavior genetic analyses.

Main Results:

Substantial heritability (.67) and low shared environmental influence (.13) were found for SLA.
Heritability of SLA at 14 years is comparable to first-language acquisition (FLA) at similar ages.
Genetic influences on FLA and SLA show high overlap, while shared environmental influences show less overlap.

Conclusions:

SLA is significantly influenced by genetic factors, similar to FLA.
Genetic overlap between FLA and SLA suggests shared biological underpinnings.
Environmental influences on SLA and FLA are largely distinct.