Backwards Speech

For the last few years, we have been researching the genetic basis of an unusual language ability; the ability to voluntarily speak backwards. Genetic sequencing in one family with this skill revealed a rare change in the genetic sequence. We are characterising the effects of this coding change upon protein function to try to link the change at the genetic sequence to a neurological mechanism that might explain their exceptional memory. 

Research question: Do changes in RIC3 function contribute to better working memory?

This project is in collaboration with researchers at KU Leuven, University of Novi Sad, University of Belgrade, University of Szeged, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina and with the Bermudez-Diaz lab at Oxford Brookes University.

The research is funded by a Leverhulme project grant. It has previously been funded by the MRC and by a Research Excellence Award from Brookes University.