The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Influences Reading Ability and Patterns of Neural Activation in Children.

ABSTRACT: Understanding how genes impact the brain's functional activation for learning and cognition during development remains limited. We asked whether a common genetic variant in the BDNF gene (the Val66Met polymorphism) modulates neural activation in the young brain during a critical period for the emergence and maturation of the neural circuitry for reading. In animal models, the bdnf variation has been shown to be associated with the structure and function of the developing brain and in humans it has been associated with multiple aspects of cognition, particularly memory, which are relevant for the development of skilled reading. Yet, little is known about the impact of the Val66Met polymorphism on functional brain activation in development, either in animal models or in humans. Here, we exam

SUBMITTER: Jasinska KK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4995017 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature