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The shared genetic architecture and evolution of human language and musical rhythm

Author

Listed:
  • Gökberk Alagöz

    (Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics)

  • Else Eising

    (Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics)

  • Yasmina Mekki

    (Vanderbilt University Medical Center
    Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

  • Giacomo Bignardi

    (Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
    Max Planck School of Cognition)

  • Pierre Fontanillas

    (23andMe, Inc.)

  • Michel G. Nivard

    (Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol
    University of Bristol)

  • Michelle Luciano

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Nancy J. Cox

    (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

  • Simon E. Fisher

    (Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
    Radboud University)

  • Reyna L. Gordon

    (Vanderbilt University Medical Center
    Vanderbilt University Medical Center
    Vanderbilt University
    Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

Abstract

This study aimed to test theoretical predictions over biological underpinnings of previously documented phenotypic correlations between human language-related and musical rhythm traits. Here, after identifying significant genetic correlations between rhythm, dyslexia and various language-related traits, we adapted multivariate methods to capture genetic signals common to genome-wide association studies of rhythm (N = 606,825) and dyslexia (N = 1,138,870). The results revealed 16 pleiotropic loci (P

Suggested Citation

  • Gökberk Alagöz & Else Eising & Yasmina Mekki & Giacomo Bignardi & Pierre Fontanillas & Michel G. Nivard & Michelle Luciano & Nancy J. Cox & Simon E. Fisher & Reyna L. Gordon, 2025. "The shared genetic architecture and evolution of human language and musical rhythm," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 9(2), pages 376-390, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:9:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1038_s41562-024-02051-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-02051-y
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