Neurogenetics of Speech and Language

Human children have an unparalleled capacity to acquire sophisticated speech and language skills. Despite the huge complexity of the task, most children learn their native languages almost effortlessly, and do not need formal teaching to achieve a rich linguistic repertoire.

It has long been suspected that the answers to this enigma lie buried in our genetic makeup. The Language & Genetics department at the Max Planck Institute takes advantage of the latest innovations in molecular methods to discover how the human genome helps to build a language-ready brain. We aim to uncover the DNA variations which ultimately affect different facets of our communicative abilities, not only in children with language-related disorders but also in the general population.

Crucially our work attempts to bridge the gaps between genes, brains, speech and language, by integrating molecular findings with data from other levels of analysis, including cell biology, experimental psychology and neuroimaging. In addition, we hope to trace the evolutionary history and worldwide diversity of key genes, which may shed new light on language origins.