Generalist genes and learning disabilities

被引:355
作者
Plomin, R [1 ]
Kovas, Y [1 ]
机构
[1] Kings Coll London, Inst Psychiat, Social Genet & Dev Psychiat Ctr, London SE5 8AF, England
关键词
genetics; learning disabilities; reading; language; mathematics;
D O I
10.1037/0033-2909.131.4.592
中图分类号
B84 [心理学];
学科分类号
04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
The authors reviewed recent quantitative genetic research on learning disabilities that led to the conclusion that genetic diagnoses differ from traditional diagnoses in that the effects of relevant genes are largely general rather than specific. This research suggests that most genes associated with common learning disabilities-language impairment, reading disability, and mathematics disability-are generalists in 3 ways. First, genes that affect common learning disabilities are largely the same genes responsible for normal variation in learning abilities. Second, genes that affect any aspect of a learning disability affect other aspects of the disability. Third, genes that affect one learning disability are also likely to affect other learning disabilities. These quantitative genetic findings have far-reaching implications for molecular genetics and neuroscience as well as psychology.
引用
收藏
页码:592 / 617
页数:26
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