Behavioral and Molecular Genetics of Reading-Related AM and FM Detection Thresholds.
Auditory detection thresholds for certain frequencies of both amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) dynamic auditory stimuli are associated with reading in typically developing and dyslexic readers. We present the first behavioral and molecular genetic characterization of these two auditory traits. Two extant extended family datasets were given reading tasks and psychoacoustic tasks to determine FM 2 Hz and AM 20 Hz sensitivity thresholds. Univariate heritabilities were significant for both AM (h2= 0.20) and FM (h2= 0.29). Bayesian posterior probability of linkage (PPL) analysis found loci for AM (12q, PPL = 81 %) and FM (10p, PPL = 32 %; 20q, PPL = 65 %). Bivariate heritability analyses revealed that FM is genetically correlated with reading, while AM was not. Bivariate PPL analysis indicates that FM loci (10p, 20q) are not also associated with reading.
The Battelle Center for Mathematical Medicine, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
Matthew
M
Bruni
Department of Genetics and the Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Judy F
JF
Flax
Department of Genetics and the Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.|Department of Statistics, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Steven
S
Buyske
The Battelle Center for Mathematical Medicine, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
Amber D
AD
Shindhelm
Aston Brain Centre, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK.
Caroline
C
Witton
Department of Genetics and the Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Linda M
LM
Brzustowicz
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. bartletc@ccri.net.|Battelle Center for Mathematical Medicine, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital & The Ohio State University, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA. bartletc@ccri.net.
Christopher W
CW
Bartlett
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods; D010375:Pedigree; D011932:Reading
AM processing; Dynamic auditory sensitivity; FM processing; Heritability; Language; Reading