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Developmental disorders of speech and language: from genes to brain structure and function
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. kate.watkins@psy.ox.ac.uk
Progress in Brain Research
|April 15, 2011
Summary
Brain imaging reveals how genetic mutations and basal ganglia issues impact speech and language development. These findings clarify neural correlates in developmental speech disorders like the KE family
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Functional and structural brain imaging are crucial for understanding developmental disorders.
- These techniques can link genetic factors (genotype) to observable traits (phenotype).
- Two developmental speech and language disorders with suspected genetic links were investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural correlates of two developmental speech and language disorders.
- To clarify the behavioral impairments associated with these disorders.
- To explore the commonalities in basal ganglia abnormalities in these conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized functional and structural brain imaging techniques.
- Examined patients with a FOXP2 gene mutation (KE family disorder).
- Assessed individuals with developmental stuttering.
Main Results:
- In the KE family disorder, brain correlates confirmed auditory-motor learning deficits in articulation.
- Developmental stuttering showed functional basal ganglia abnormalities.
- Structural differences in developmental stuttering indicated impaired auditory-motor integration for fluent speech.
Conclusions:
- Auditory-motor learning deficits are central to the phenotype of the KE family speech disorder.
- Developmental stuttering may stem from basal ganglia dysfunction and impaired auditory-motor integration.
- Shared basal ganglia abnormalities are noted in both investigated developmental speech and language disorders.
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