New research shows that the Foxp2 gene, which is known for its involvement in speech and language in humans, helps control the brain's neural wiring. The findings help elucidate how the gene directs particular features of the development of the nervous system, helping bridge the gap between genes and complex aspects of brain function. The current study provides the most thorough characterisation of Foxp2 target pathways to date. It offers a number of compelling new candidate genes that could be investigated in people with language problems.

The study, funded in part by a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship grant under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), carried out by researchers from France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. The findings help elucidate how the gene directs particular features of the development of the nervous system, helping bridge the gap between genes and complex aspects of brain function.

Thanks to this study, researchers discovered that several of these targets had already been recognised for their role in the connectivity of the central nervous system. One decade ago, researchers already found that mutations of the human gene triggered a rare form of speech and language disorder one. The researchers discovered that changing Foxp2 levels in neurons affected the length and branching of neuronal projections, which experts believe are significant for modulating the wiring of the developing brain.

Although the steps on research about human genome variations, the researchers said that studies like this are crucial for building bridges between genes and complex aspects of brain function. This study provides the most thorough characterisation of Foxp2 target and it offers a number of compelling new genes that could be investigated in people with language problems.