The developmental origins of genetic factors influencing language and literacy: Associations with early‐childhood vocabulary
Duration: 1 mins
Publication Date: 4 Aug 2021
Next Review Date: 4 Aug 2024
DOI: 10.13056/acamh.16650
Description
In this Video Abstract, Dr. Ellen Verhoef and Dr. Beate St Pourcain discuss their JCPP paper ‘The developmental origins of genetic factors influencing language and literacy: Associations with early‐childhood vocabulary’. The heritability of language and literacy skills increases from early-childhood to adolescence. The underlying mechanisms are little understood and may involve (a) the amplification of genetic influences contributing to early language abilities, and/or (b) the emergence of novel genetic factors (innovation). Here, we investigate the developmental origins of genetic factors influencing mid-childhood/early-adolescent language and literacy. We evaluate evidence for the amplification of early-childhood genetic factors for vocabulary, in addition to genetic innovation processes.
Learning Objectives
1. Discuss the evidence for innovation and/or amplification processes during language and literacy development.
2. Explore expressive and receptive vocabulary at 38 months and a wide range of mid-childhood/early-adolescent language- and literacy-related skills, as well as nonverbal intelligence.
