| Title: |
Preschool Musicality Is Associated with School-Age Communication Abilities through Genes Related to Rhythmicity |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Lucía de Hoyos (ORCID 0000-0001-7252-1591); Ellen Verhoef (ORCID 0000-0002-8315-1095); Aysu Okbay (ORCID 0000-0002-5170-7781); Janne R. Vermeulen; Celeste Figaroa; Miriam Lense; Simon E. Fisher (ORCID 0000-0002-3132-1996); Reyna L. Gordon; Beate St Pourcain (ORCID 0000-0002-4680-3517) |
| Source: |
npj Science of Learning. 2025 10. |
| Availability: |
Nature Portfolio. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www.nature.com/npjscilearn/ |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
12 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Education Level: |
Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education |
| Descriptors: |
Music Education; Preschool Education; Preschool Children; Communication Skills; Genetics; Music; Language Skills; Cognitive Processes; Longitudinal Studies; Scores; Cognitive Measurement; Speech Communication; Singing; Music Activities; Syntax; Outcome Measures; Foreign Countries; Interpersonal Communication |
| Geographic Terms: |
United Kingdom |
| DOI: |
10.1038/s41539-025-00329-y |
| ISSN: |
2056-7936 |
| Abstract: |
Early-life abilities involved in perceiving, producing and engaging with music (musicality) may shape later (social) communication and language abilities. Here, we investigate phenotypic and genetic relationships linking musicality and communication abilities by studying information from preschool and school-aged children of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (N = 4169-6737 per measure, age 0.5-17 years). Using structural models, we identified relationships between latent musicality and speech- and cognition-related variables (r > 0.30). Consistently, polygenic scores for rhythmicity in adulthood (PGS[subscript rhythmicity]) showed associations with preschool and school-age musicality (incremental-"Nagelkerke"-R[superscript 2] = 0.006-0.011, p < 0.0025), as well as school-age communication and cognition-related measures (incremental-R[superscript 2] = 0.04-1%, p < 0.0025). Studying the directionality of genetic effects using a mediation framework, we found evidence supporting a developmental pathway linking preschool musicality to school-age speech-/syntax-related abilities, as captured by PGS[subscript rhythmicity] (shared effect: [beta] = 0.0051(SE = 0.0021), p = 0.015). Associations were found conditional on general cognition and genetically unrelated to educational attainment, suggesting robust developmental links between early musicality and later speech-related communication performance. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2025 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1474296 |
| Database: |
ERIC |