PSY 3136 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Foxp2, Twin Study, Heritability

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 3136
• Professor: Chris Fennell

Document Summary

Lecture 5 ( chapter 2 ) - biological bases of language. Age and skill: 25-50% within normal language children (>3 years) For younger children, heritability estimates range between 1 and 38 percent of the variance, depending on the measure: 25% (2-4-year-olds), 50+% (7-12-year-olds) Twin pair study found the importance of genetic influences on language variation changes with age. Genetic factors accounted for just under a quarter of the variance in children"s language skills from 2 to 4 years, and more than half the variance from 7 to 12 years. Aspect of language: 39% (grammar, 25% (lexical development, 26% (syntax, 5% (vocabulary) Greater heritability estimates for impaired and for grammar (genetic-controlled aspect) Presence of biological family member with sli increases chances for sli. Foxp2 (a language gene related to language development / skills) Reference (use symbol to represent things - being able to refer a symbol to concrete concept) Bees produce unique messages, but lack productivity (beyond direction/distance of food source)