People with dyslexia could also be more likely to have a poor sense of rhythm, according to a new study. Researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics used genetic data from 23AndMe as well as other databases to find genetic patterns associated with both dyslexia and a poor sense of rhythm. On the surface, these seem like two very different features, but editing language is a task that also requires some rhythm recognition. (Just think of poems and songs, where words and rhythm are closely related). And indeed, the team found 16 regions of the genome involved in both rhythm processing and language.
A new study has found genetic links between dyslexia and lack of rhythm, further supporting the brain … [+]
The starting point for this study was the vast genetic databases that 23AndMe has collected over the years. The genetic testing company asked its customers about certain traits they have. This involved asking people if they had a confirmed diagnosis of dyslexia and if they thought they were good at keeping pace. They then compared it to their genetic profile. The result is a sample of information obtained from more than one million people.
According to these data, both dyslexia and sense of rhythm are associated with several genes. It may come as no surprise that dyslexia is a trait that is inherent in one’s genetics (after all, dyslexia is something that affects people throughout their lives). But the sense of rhythm is also linked to many genes.
Brain link between dyslexia and rhythm
The researchers in this new study compared these two genetic associations and found genetic patterns that were common between people with dyslexia and people with a poor sense of rhythm. They also found some clues to suggest how these genes affected processes in the brain.
“We were particularly excited by the discovery of genetic variants jointly associated with rhythm and language as enriched for oligodendrocytes in the brain,” one of studyby researcher Reyna Gordon said at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “Oligodendrocytes are a type of brain cell that help maintain specific connections between brain regions helping the circuit to stay healthy and strong.”
Finding genetic links in a comparison study like this does not necessarily mean that variations in those particular genes are the cause of dyslexia or a poor sense of rhythm. But with such a large number of people in the data set, it’s likely to be more than just a coincidence. It gives researchers a new starting point for future studies. For example, it could help them understand in more detail how these genes affect the way cells form connections in the brain and how those connections are involved in language processing and the development of a sense of rhythm.
Scientists already knew that language and rhythm are related. The areas of the brain that control language processing (which affects dyslexia) and movement are closely linked, and this study adds a few more details that other researchers can consider. It may seem like a small step, but this is how neuroscience progresses. After all, it’s a big field that deals with some very complex questions about our brains and how we process the world. And now we know a little more about some of the genes that could be involved in part of it.
