The tortuous route from genes to behavior: A neuroconstructivist approach

Genes, brain, and behavior: Bridging disciplines

“…We begin this special issue with a cautionary paper by Karmiloff-Smith (2006) that addresses complexities that arise when one interprets simple gene-behavior associations in the context of development. KarmiloffSmith argues that in the excitement to use the human genome project to uncover the functions of specific genes, researchers often ignore a fundamental factor: the gradual process of ontogenetic development.…”

“…Without precise measures, the trait of interest will lack validity. Karmiloff-Smith (2006) illustrates the precision with which behavioral traits must be assayed, in her studies of Williams syndrome and the domain of face processing. Several investigators have claimed that face-processing in individuals with Williams syndrome is intact, while spatial processing is impaired (e.g., Bellugi, Wang, & Jernigan, 1994).…”

Components of the Language-Ready Brain

“…There is no fixed macro-anatomical structure that is exclusively dedicated to language: linguistic processing is a widespread property of the neural networks . Language exhibits extensive plasticity for the localization of its components between and within individuals (Neville and Bavelier, 1998), during its development (Karmiloff- Smith, 2006), in its repair (Hagoort, 2009), and depending on its modality (Neville, 1993;Mayberry, 2002). The often-noted association between human praxis and language also points in the same direction.…”

Understanding Common Developmental Timetables across Cultures from a Developmental Systems Perspective

“…However, there is a history of critical discussion in response to such claims, and, based on current work in biology, this does not seem to be biologically plausible [e.g., Griffiths, 2002;Jablonka & Lamb, 2005;Lehrman, 1970;Mareschal, Johnson, Sirois, Spratling, Thomas, & Westermann, 2007;Oyama, 1985]. That is, it is a ''torturous route'' from genes to complex abilities such as communicative skills [e.g., Fisher, 2006;Karmiloff-Smith, 2006], and it is all gene-environment interaction [Meaney, 2010], so claiming that something is innate or genetically determined is only a place holder for the complex developmental story which is needed [e.g., Lickliter & Honeycutt, 2009]. Genes are one essential factor in a system of bi-directionally interacting factors, and complexity emerges rather than pre-exists at any particular level [e.g., Gottlieb, 2007;Hendriks-Jansen, 1996].…”