The proposed longitudinal study is designed to examine reading development at critical points in its establishment (from ages 7.5-10.5) in nonimpaired (Nl) and reading disabled (RD) cohorts. Our previous cross sectional research has identified reading group differences in both functional neuroanatomical and behavioral trajectories;the proposed longitudinal study is aimed at gaining a better understanding of behavioral, neurobiological, and genetic etiological factors responsible for this observed divergence. We examine the hypothesis that the candidate etiological agent that might underlie variation in neurodevelopmental and behavioral trajectories is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA): research has shown that GABA plays a critical role in learning and memory. Accordingly, the proposed research will permit relating developmental changes in reading performance and functional neuroanatomy for reading (measured with fMRI) to GABA expression, measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and genetic analyses, linking polymorphisms in the GABA family genes to GABA expression in the brain. Specifically, the research aims to: 1) Characterize concurrent relations among genetics, neurochemistry, functional neuroanatomy, and reading behavior at 2 important timepoints in reading development, 2) Investigate Nl and RD differences for each of these measures, 3) Examine subsequent developmental trajectories in Nl and RD cohorts, 4) Better characterize learning capacities and learning styles in these cohorts, 5) Develop dynamic brain/behavior phenotypes sensitive to genetic analyses, and 6) Contrast multi-level profiles and developmental trajectories in subgroups of RD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD048830-05
Application #
7616168
Study Section
Language and Communication Study Section (LCOM)
Program Officer
Miller, Brett
Project Start
2005-08-01
Project End
2011-05-31
Budget Start
2009-06-01
Budget End
2011-05-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$577,600
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
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Jasi?ska, Kaja K; Molfese, Peter J; Kornilov, Sergey A et al. (2016) The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Influences Reading Ability and Patterns of Neural Activation in Children. PLoS One 11:e0157449
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Preston, Jonathan L; Molfese, Peter J; Mencl, W Einar et al. (2014) Structural brain differences in school-age children with residual speech sound errors. Brain Lang 128:25-33
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Campbell, Daniel; Bick, Johanna; Yrigollen, Carolyn M et al. (2013) Schooling and variation in the COMT gene: the devil is in the details. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 54:1056-65
Landi, Nicole; Frost, Stephen J; Mencl, W Einar et al. (2013) The COMT Val/Met polymorphism is associated with reading-related skills and consistent patterns of functional neural activation. Dev Sci 16:13-23

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