Dyslexia genes and neurobiological pathways

In a multicentre, multidisciplinary project we will investigate the biological basis of dyslexia by collecting powerful samples of subjects consistently characterised across EC populations on

three different levels: genetics, environment, and neuroscience. Our aim is to understand the etiology of the disorder by integrating the results of the three levels. On the genetic level, we will use a systematic two stage approach to map and clone dyslexia

susceptibility genes in samples of 800 families and 1950 dyslexic cases and 1950 controls. The identified risk-conferring genes will also be used to understand gene-gene and gene-environment

interactions, as well as gene-specific contributions to a variety of neurobiological correlates of dyslexia.

Environmental risk factors will be investigated in two samples, a longitudinal sample of 4000 twin pairs and a longitudinal sample of 100 at-risk and 100 non at-risk children.

On the neuroscience level (structural and functional brain studies including cutting edge technology such as effective connectivity) we will investigate the prerequisites of reading and spelling

development and the central stages of becoming a fluent reader.

The resulting research group will be a high quality, adaptive and cooperative European consortium composed of psychologists, molecular biologists/geneticists, clinicians and genetic statisticians.
Identification of 1950 dyslexic cases and controls (200 in Salzburg) according to strict selection criteria. Neorocognitive assessment for phenotypic charactersation; identification of risc conferring genes; fMRI study with well selected sub-samples
The overall objective of this project is to identify genetic and environmental risk factors for dyslexia and correlate these findings with state of the art functional scanning analyses of the brain.

This will improve our understanding of the aetiology of this disorder, so that early diagnosis and improved treatment can be designed and implemented.