Genetics meets environment: Twin studies and polygenic scores in learning and neurodiversity
Elsje van Bergen’s research explores the intricate interplay between nature and nurture in shaping individual differences in learning abilities. In her talk, she will explain heritability and genetically-informed studies. She challenges simplistic causal links between home factors (like the number of books) and outcomes such as dyslexia. Her research shows children with dyslexia are also at higher risk for dyscalculia and ADHD, not because reading difficulties cause these, but due to shared genetic risks. She concludes by showing why educational skills and ADHD tend to run in families, using big data on parents and children, employing polygenic scores and pedigree data.
