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High-resolution In Vivo Manual Segmentation Protocol for Human Hippocampal Subfields Using 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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A twin MRI study of size variations in human brain.

B F Pennington¹, P A Filipek, D Lefly

¹Department of Psychology, University of Denver, CO 80208, USA.

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

|April 19, 2000

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study reveals significant genetic influences on human brain size variation, showing heritability across cortical and subcortical structures. These brain size differences are linked to variations in full-scale IQ.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Behavioral Genetics
Human Anatomy

Background:

Individual differences in human brain size are well-documented but their origins remain largely unknown.
Previous research has not extensively explored the genetic and environmental factors influencing brain structure variations.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the etiology of individual differences in human brain size using a large twin sample.
To examine the genetic and environmental influences on variations in cortical and subcortical brain structures.
To explore the relationship between brain size and full-scale IQ.

Main Methods:

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure brain structures in 132 adolescent twins.
Factor analysis was performed on volume data from 13 brain structures, yielding cortical and subcortical factors.
Intraclass correlations were computed for monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs to assess genetic and environmental influences.

Main Results:

Substantial genetic influences (heritability) were found for both cortical and subcortical brain structures, with no significant variation by hemisphere.
Total cerebral volume and subcortical structures showed moderate positive correlations with full-scale IQ.
Genetic influences on brain size were evident, suggesting a heritable component to individual differences in brain morphology.

Conclusions:

Individual differences in human brain size are significantly heritable.
Genetic factors influencing brain size do not appear to vary markedly between hemispheres or between neocortical and subcortical regions.
Heritability of brain size may partially explain individual differences in full-scale IQ.