In a study published on November 21 in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, researchers uncovered significant genetic connections between human language abilities and musical rhythm skills, shedding light on the biological foundations of these traits.
The research involved experts from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands. Utilizing multiple datasets from over 1 million individuals, the study applied advanced multivariate methods to identify common genetic factors.
Findings indicated that genetic variants associated with a higher likelihood of rhythm impairments were also linked to a higher likelihood of dyslexia. Conversely, variants associated with accurate musical rhythm skills corresponded with genes related to better performance in language and reading tests, as well as positive educational outcomes in foreign language classes.
The study identified 16 genomic regions overlapping between rhythm and language, suggesting these loci may harbor genetic variants that regulate gene expression in various brain cells. Reyna Gordon, Ph.D., the senior author, noted that these results indicate a complex genetic and neurobiological architecture shared by musical rhythm and language learning capabilities.
Dr. Gordon remarked, "We were particularly intrigued by the finding of genetic variants jointly tied to rhythm and language as being enriched for oligodendrocytes in the brain," referring to cells that maintain connections between brain areas.
Analyses by co-author Yasmina Mekki, Ph.D., pinpointed a locus on chromosome 20 common to neural connectivity in both language and rhythm networks. This points to connectivity as a crucial neurobiological factor influenced by the polygenic bases of rhythm and language variation.
The study also highlighted the unique connectivity of human brains between auditory and motor regions, theorized as a co-evolved underpinning of language and musicality. Furthermore, a joint variant linked to rhythm impairment and dyslexia was found in the gene DLAT, previously associated with rare neurodevelopmental disorders.
Overall, the research revealed novel genomic factors shared between rhythm and language traits in humans, contributing to the understanding of the origins of musicality and communication skills. Future clinical applications may involve risk detection and personalized treatments based on genetic predispositions to rhythm and language impairments.