title: Enhanced procedural learning of speech sound categories in a genetic variant of FOXP2.
abstract: A mutation of the forkhead box protein P2 (FOXP2) gene is associated with severe deficits in human speech and language acquisition. In rodents, the humanized form of FOXP2 promotes faster switching from declarative to procedural learning strategies when the two learning systems compete. Here, we examined a polymorphism of FOXP2 (rs6980093) in humans (214 adults; 111 females) for associations with non-native speech category learning success. Neurocomputational modeling results showed that individuals with the GG genotype shifted faster to procedural learning strategies, which are optimal for the task. These findings support an adaptive role for the FOXP2 gene in modulating the function of neural learning systems that have a direct bearing on human speech category learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Department of Psychology, Department of Linguistics, Institute for Neuroscience, Institute for Mental Health Research, and bchandra@utexas.edu.
authors.forename: Bharath
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3673-9435
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chandrasekaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Han-Gyol
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Nathaniel J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9899-8048
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island 02908, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, and Division of Behavioral Genetics, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02903.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McGeary
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Institute for Neuroscience, Institute for Mental Health Research, and Center for Perceptual Systems, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712.
authors.forename: W Todd
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Maddox
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C465448:FOXP2 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors
keywords: FOXP2; category learning; corticostriatal systems; genetic variation; procedural learning; speech