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FOXP2 variation modulates functional hemispheric asymmetries for speech perception.

Sebastian Ocklenburg¹, Larissa Arning, Wanda M Gerding

¹Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Biopsychology, Department of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.

Brain and Language

|August 6, 2013

Summary

Genetic variations in the forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) gene influence language dominance. Specific FOXP2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) correlate with how individuals process speech sounds, impacting brain lateralization for language.

Keywords:

Cerebral lateralization Dichotic listening task Footedness Handedness Laterality Ontogenesis Visual half-field technique

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Genetics
Linguistics

Background:

Left-hemispheric dominance is a key feature of human language.
The molecular basis for this lateralization, particularly involving genes like FOXP2, remains largely unknown.
FOXP2 gene is implicated in speech and language development.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between variations in the FOXP2 gene and individual differences in language dominance.
To explore the role of FOXP2 in speech perception lateralization.

Main Methods:

Utilized dichotic listening and visual half-field tasks in 456 healthy adults.
Analyzed specific FOXP2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): rs2396753 and rs12533005.

Main Results:

Significant associations were found between FOXP2 SNPs rs2396753 and rs12533005 and performance on the dichotic listening task.
These genetic variations correlate with the distribution of correct responses, indicating a link to speech perception asymmetry.

Conclusions:

Variation in the FOXP2 gene contributes to inter-individual differences in hemispheric asymmetries for speech perception.
FOXP2 may play a role in the genetic underpinnings of language lateralization.