Developmental dyslexia is highly heritable, but the search for susceptibility genes is challenging because the pathway from genotype to dyslexic phenotypes is very complex. We hypothesize that neural markers of dyslexia that have been discovered using neuroimaging could be endophenotypes: intermediate traits unseen by the unaided eye that are associated with dyslexia but that are more directly linked to the underlying genotype. We propose to (1) explore the factors underlying neural markers of dyslexia (Aim 1), (2) explore the relationship between the neural factors and behavior (Aim 2) and (3) explore the relationship between the neural factors and a specific genotype that is associated with dyslexia risk (Aim 3). We hope to find a neural factor that is associated with both a behavioral phenotype and an underlying genotype. Such a marker would be a promising candidate endophenotype that could make the search for susceptibility genes more straightforward, and in turn could lead to novel biological treatments for dyslexia in the future.

Public Health Relevance

Identifying the genes that contribute to dyslexia could revolutionize treatment, but is very challenging. We plan to search for a neural signature of dyslexia that is on the pathway from genes to the behavioral impairments in the hopes of making the search for dyslexia genes more straightforward and successful.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21HD064983-01
Application #
7869939
Study Section
Language and Communication Study Section (LCOM)
Program Officer
Miller, Brett
Project Start
2010-04-01
Project End
2012-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$231,750
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109