Gaining an Insight into Language Formation

A recent discovery of a gene, SRPX2, has sparked a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins. The gene appears to play a part in language ability as well as formation of synapses in the brain. This discovery adds to the scientific understanding of how language is developed throughout the brain and also the processes that are involved with synaptic formation.

When a group of mice were injected with an SRPX2-blocking compound, the mice showed fewer formed synapses. Also, when mice pups that had been injected with this compound were separated from their mothers, they failed to emit a high-pitched distress call that other pups commonly do. This was a fair indication that these mice pups lacked early language ability.

Another research group has shown that SRPX2 interacts with FoxP2, a gene that is famous for its apparent role in language ability. FoxP2 is involved in other functions besides language ability, but SRPX2 appears to be more specialized to language ability.

This discovery is interesting because language formation is one of the areas of human physiology that is less studied and not completely understood, like many other functions of our central nervous system. With the discovery of genes such as SRPX2, we can begin to unravel the mystery behind these functions and may possibly be able to gain more insight on how our nervous system works as a whole.

Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131031142655.htm