FOXP2 variation modulates functional hemispheric asymmetries for speech perception

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sebastian Ocklenburg - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Larissa Arning - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Wanda M. Gerding - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Jörg T. Epplen - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Onur Güntürkün - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Christian Beste - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)

Abstract

Left-hemispheric language dominance is a well-known characteristic of the human language system, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this crucial feature of vocal communication are still far from being understood. The forkhead box P2 gene FOXP2, which has been related to speech development, constitutes an interesting candidate gene in this regard. Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating effects of variation in FOXP2 on individual language dominance. To this end, we used a dichotic listening and a visual half-field task in a sample of 456 healthy adults. The FOXP2 SNPs rs2396753 and rs12533005 were found to be significantly associated with the distribution of correct answers on the dichotic listening task. These results show that variation in FOXP2 may contribute to the inter-individual variability in hemispheric asymmetries for speech perception.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)279-284
Number of pages6
JournalBrain and Language
Volume126
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2013
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 23911943
ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/160952667

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

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