Dr. Yulia Kovas - Research projects

THE ORIGINS OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN NUMERICAL COGNITION

This is a long-term multi-stage prject in which both MSc and PhD can be involved.  The project aims at identifying multiple factors involved in mathematical achievement and underachievement, including genetic and environmetnal factors.  Behavioural Genetic, Molecular Genetic, Cross-Cultural, Family, School, Health, Brain-meachanisms, Personality, Motivations, and many other factors can be explored using different methods.

THE ORIGINS OF DISSOCIATIONS AMONG DIFFERENT COGNITIVE ABILITIES

Understanding the genetic, environmental, and brain mechanisms that underlie individual differences in mathematical cognition has important implications for mathematics education and prevention of learning disabilities.  Recent behavioural genetic research suggests that genes have largely general effects on learning abilities and disabilities. In other words, if one has genetic predispositions for being good at mathematics, the same genetic effects should predispose this person to being good at other areas of learning, such as language, reading, and science. This means that to the extent that dissociations in performance occur (when one is for example good at mathematics, but bad at reading), this comes from environmental influences. However, almost nothing is known about what these environments might be. The proposed project will aim at identifying some of the factors involved by studying individuals who show discrepant performances in different areas of cognition/learning and/or studying monozygotic twins who show discordance for different areas of cognition/learning.  

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN GENETIC RESEARCH

This exciting project will involve engaging the public in genetic research, including presenting genetic information to the public in innovative ways, and engaging the general public in genetic research aimed at unravelling the origins in individual differences in cognition.  This project will involve collaborative work between geneticists, psychologists, artists, and media and will aim at engaging thousands of people in the genetic study.  This project will also explore the ethical considerations, multiple worries and misconceptions about genetic research, raising public awareness and understanding of genetics.
PhD and MSc projects do not have to use either twin method or have a molecular genetic component, although this is a possibility. Much research with normal populations can be done to try to identify specific environmental factors involved in individual variation and in common disorders.  As genes involved in cognition are beginning to be identified, students can also get involved in testing behavioural genomic hypotheses by recruiting specific samples.  The two projects above are examples of the kind of research that you could do for your PhD, but you can come up with your own ideas and research avenues. E-mail me (y.kovas@iop.kcl.ac.uk) for more information, to schedule an appointment, or to request PDF documents of the recommended reading.  

Recommended reading

Kovas, Y. & Plomin, R. (2006). Generalist Genes: Implications for Cognitive Sciences. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 10(5), 198-203.
Kovas, Y., Haworth, C.M.A., Dale, P.S., & Plomin, R. (2007). The genetic and environmental origins of learning abilities and disabilities in the early school years. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, Volume 72, whole number 3, Serial No. 188, pp. 1-144.
Kovas, Y. & Plomin, R.(2007). Learning abilities and disabilities: Generalist genes, specialist environments. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16(5), 284-288.