The Impact of Epigenetics on Language Processing and The Neural Mechanisms of Reading Comprehension

Abstract

 Language acquisition and reading comprehension are complex cognitive processes shaped by both genetic and epigenetic factors. Epigenetic mechanisms-including DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling-regulate gene expression patterns that guide neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, and cortical patterning, thereby influencing the neural circuits underlying language and literacy. Environmental inputs, such as early language exposure, educational interventions, and socioeconomic context, interact with these epigenetic programs to modulate linguistic and reading skills across development. Core reading networks, comprising the left temporoparietal, ventral occipitotemporal, and inferior frontal circuits, support phonological, orthographic, and semantic processing and exhibit experience-dependent plasticity mediated by epigenetic regulation. Evidence from longitudinal and cross-species studies indicates that targeted educational practices can induce beneficial epigenetic changes, enhancing language acquisition and reading proficiency. Understanding the interplay between epigenetic regulation, neural mechanisms, and environmental factors provides a foundation for optimizing literacy interventions and informs strategies for mitigating reading-related difficulties in both typical and at-risk populations.