Figure 2 in the review: Levels of analysis from genes and brain systems to cognition and behaviour. The child both influences and is influenced by parents through genetically shaped interactions, and by the wider school and social environment. Figure design by Neil Usher. Figure from this review paper: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/w23yz_v1

🧩Learning to talk & read isn’t just about effort or teaching—it’s shaped by biology, experience & context

🧠Our new review links genetics, neuroscience, psychology & education to show why some children find language or reading easier.

📖 doi.org/10.31234/osf...

🖼️genes→brain→cognition→behaviour 🧵👇

Image shows the first two printed pages of the paper “A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder” by Cecilia Lai and colleagues, published in Nature in 2001 (volume 413, pages 519-523). The abstract reads as follows: Individuals affected with developmental disorders of speech and language have substantial difficulty acquiring expressive and/or receptive language in the absence of any profound sensory or neurological impairment and despite adequate intelligence and opportunity. Although studies of twins consistently indicate that a significant genetic component is involved, most families segregating speech and language deficits show complex patterns of inheritance, and a gene that predisposes individuals to such disorders has not been identified. We have studied a unique three-generation pedigree, KE, in which a severe speech and language disorder is transmitted as an autosomal-dominant monogenic trait. Our previous work mapped the locus responsible, SPCH1, to a 5.6-cM interval of region 7q31 on chromosome 7. We also identified an unrelated individual, CS, in whom speech and language impairment is associated with a chromosomal translocation involving the SPCH1 interval. Here we show that the gene FOXP2, which encodes a putative transcription factor containing a polyglutamine tract and a forkhead DNA-binding domain, is directly disrupted by the translocation breakpoint in CS. In addition, we identify a point mutation in affected members of the KE family that alters an invariant amino-acid residue in the forkhead domain. Our findings suggest that FOXP2 is involved in the developmental process that culminates in speech and language.

Twenty-four years ago today, our paper “A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder” was published: www.nature.com/articles/350....
A personal thread about the ups & downs of the journey we took to get to that point....1/n
🗣️🧬🧪

Musical rhythm abilities and risk for developmental speech-language problems and disorders: epidemiological and polygenic associations - Nature Communications Impaired musical rhythm abilities and developmental speech-language related disorders are biologically and clinically intertwined. Here, the authors explore the correlation between the two traits, finding evidence of epidemiological associations and genetic overlap.

New paper alert! Systematic epidemiological analyses of up to 39,000 people illuminate biological/clinical links between impaired musical rhythm abilities & disorders affecting speech-language development. International collaboration led by @drsrishtin.bsky.social, out in @natcomms.nature.com. 👇🧪

Brain metabolomics in dementia and neurological disease This Collection invites original research using metabolomic platforms to explore the mechanisms of dementia and neurological disease or aid in its diagnosis ...

Calling for your paper for the upcoming collection
Brain metabolomics in dementia and neurological disease
I’m honoured to be serving as the collection’s Guest Editor
and eager to read your submission. #CallForPapers @natureportfolio.nature.com Learn more about the
collection: go.nature.com/41S5bI3

📢 Job Alert: Postdoctoral Research Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. Full details: edin.ac/3Ibm1uQ

Deadline for applications: Friday 19 September 2025

AAAAANNNNndddd the @athelstanmuseum.bsky.social liked this obviously very niche post. I will come for a visit!

Naming a child or pet? Uninspired by traditional names? Consider Aethelstan as an absolute Anglo-Saxon classic. Ruling England before it was cool.

The Unseen Struggle: Mapping and Addressing the Awareness Gap Surrounding Developmental Coordination Disorder - Current Developmental Disorders Reports Purpose of Review Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD/Dyspraxia) is a frequently overlooked and misunderstood neurodevelopmental disorder. Numerous studies have sought to index the rates of aware...

Awareness of developmental coordination disorder/ #dyspraxia is still far too low.
This article by Emily Meachon and Amy De Roubaix reviews past efforts to raise awareness and highlights strategies that might actually make a difference moving forward:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Multivariate genome-wide association analysis of dyslexia and quantitative reading skill improves gene discovery Translational Psychiatry - Multivariate genome-wide association analysis of dyslexia and quantitative reading skill improves gene discovery

Delighted to see work led by Hayley Mountford @hayleymountford.bsky.social published today. rdcu.be/eA8G0 We used MTAG to increase gene discovery for dyslexia: 36 new regions; ~30 new genes from gene-based tests; several sig biological pathways @profsimonfisher.bsky.social @schoolofppls.bsky.social

I still get chills

Meet Mike
*30+ years severe depression
*first hospitalized @ 13y
*20 meds
*3 rounds of ECT
*2 near-fatal suicide attempts

Mike felt joy for the first time in decades after we turned on his new brain pacemaker or PACE

see videos, read paper, follow thread
doi.org/10.31234/osf...

An infographic showing the impacts and activities of the Specific Learning Difficulties Network to date, since launch 2 years ago.

Here's a snapshot of what SLDN/members have done and delivered since launch. Click for an overview of the events, papers, connections and contributions. We're also keen to hear how we could add value to the activities, projects or ideas of others in the coming year or so.

Here's what frailty looks like when we consider genetic relations at the symptom level. Some important insights from this new research for anyone interested in ageing!

Epigenetic clocks and DNA methylation biomarkers of brain health and disease - Nature Reviews Neurology This Review considers how DNA methylation-based biomarkers can be used to monitor brain ageing and stratify neurological disease risk. The authors focus on epigenetic clocks, which can be applied acro...

New Publication:

Epigenetic clocks and DNA methylation biomarkers of brain health and disease

@uoe-igc.bsky.social @edinunilbc.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1038/s415...

NHS England » NHS England responds to ADHD Taskforce interim report An independent taskforce set up to tackle challenges in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) care has published its interim report and recommendations today (Friday 20 June 2025). The repor...

I am proud to have led and contributes to the experts in evidence advisory group- alot of hard work went into this www.england.nhs.uk/2025/06/nhs-...

Wilhelm Kettler, painted by Joachim Zivert (probably), wearing 16th century dress, including buckled shoes, hose, a cape, a large collar, a striped gold and silver doublet, puffed sleeves, a red cape trimmed in gold thread, and a huge pair of knee-length breeches, also in silver/gold stripes, and looking so bulbous as to be inflated

As it’s 20 June, we might celebrate any number of marvellous events today. Firstly, there’s the 451st anniversary of the birth of Wilhelm Kettler, Duke of Courland and Semigallia, and owner and wearer of these still unsurpassed trousers

Socioeconomic status linked with brain health A person’s level of social and economic status can shape their brain heath in later life, a study suggests.

How does your socioeconomic background shape brain health in later life? A groundbreaking study led by @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social with links socioeconomic status to changes in brain white matter – a known risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline. Read more: edin.ac/3TkFV8C (1/3)

Deciphering the influence of socioeconomic status on brain structure: insights from Mendelian randomization - Molecular Psychiatry Molecular Psychiatry - Deciphering the influence of socioeconomic status on brain structure: insights from Mendelian randomization

Researchers have found that differences in socioeconomic status are a likely causal risk factor in the accumulation of white matter hyperintensities, a condition which could affect thinking skills, dementia risk, and brain function in later life.
Read the full paper: edin.ac/43UuLw6 👇
🧠🧠🧠

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

New paper out which captures the lived experience of Specific Learning Difficulties. UK focussed but likely to have commonalities across countries: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... #dyslexia #dyscalculia #dysgraphia @sldnetwork.bsky.social

📣Job klaxon📣 Fixed term lecturer (Grade 8) teaching focussed position in Psychology @schoolofppls.bsky.social It's a great place to work

elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

"Inside Our Dyslexic Minds" featuring our Prof Joel Talcott will be broadcast on BBC2 on Monday the 19th May at 9pm. If you can't wait to learn about this check BBC Iplayer and learn about the experience and science of dyslexia.

Did it take the form of a European Eel?

New paper alert!

Information transfer within and between autistic and non-autistic people is out today in @nathumbehav.nature.com

nature.com/articles/s41...

THREAD! 🧵⬇️

Eel | The Wildlife Trusts The eel is famous for both its slippery nature and its mammoth migration from its freshwater home to the Sargasso Sea where it breeds. It has suffered dramatic declines and is a protected species.

Is it a large European eel? I've never seen one in the wild before.
www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-exp...

📢 #PhD available
Are you passionate about #robotics, neural control of movement and #dyspraxia / #DCD? Apply now to this funded position at the University of Surrey. Co-supervised by me!
www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-fun...

💫Wanted: a 3-year postdoctoral fellow interested in epigenomics, lifecourse health, and anti-poverty interventions — to be based in Berlin in the Biology, Social Disparities, and Development group led by @laraffington.bsky.social.

postdocprogram.mpg.de/node/692

Roses are red
Violets are blue

UCL – University College London UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

I'm looking for someone with neuroimaging experience to join my lab for a year - please do repost!

www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

@mqmentalhealth.bsky.social @kingsioppn.bsky.social @ukllc.bsky.social @closer-uk.bsky.social @sllshome.bsky.social @popres-uk.bsky.social @clscohorts.bsky.social

He was karate-chopping the neck of a transgender ghost. Calm down everyone.

How to support neurodivergent postgraduate researchers How can universities ensure PhD students of all neurotypes can thrive? Here’s how to provide neurodiversity-affirmative supervision

Are you a supervisor wondering how to better support your neurodivergent postgrads? Go read our latest article in @timeshighered.bsky.social

www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/how-s...