Research report 2014 - Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
Genetics of left-right differences in the brain
Authors
Francks, Clyde
Departments
Abteilung Sprache und Genetik (Simon Fisher)
Summary
The left and right sides of the human brain are specialized for different cognitive functions. For example, language is lateralized towards the left hemisphere in most people. The genetic mechanisms that underlie brain lateralization are unknown. In addition, dyslexia, language impairment, schizophrenia and autism are sometimes linked to altered brain lateralization. Understanding the genetic basis of lateralization is an important question in human neuroscience, with relevance for learning disabilities and psychiatric conditions.