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Published on: August 25, 2014
Genetic and environmental contributions to neonatal brain structure: A twin study
John H Gilmore1, James Eric Schmitt, Rebecca C Knickmeyer
1UNC Schizophrenia Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA. jgilmore@med.unc.edu
Human Brain Mapping
|January 12, 2010
Summary
Genetic and environmental factors significantly influence neonatal brain structure, with high heritability for total intracranial volume and white matter. Brain structure heritability changes during early development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Genetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Heritability of brain volumes is established in adults and older children.
- Genetic and environmental influences on infant brain structure remain largely unknown.
- Understanding early brain development is crucial for identifying developmental trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate genetic and environmental contributions to brain structure in neonates.
- To examine how these contributions change across early postnatal development.
- To compare neonatal brain structure heritability with findings in older populations.
Main Methods:
- Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 217 neonatal twins.
- Tissue segmentation and parcellation of brain structures.
- Structural equation modeling to estimate genetic and environmental effects.
Main Results:
- High heritability observed for total intracranial volume (0.73) and white matter volume (0.85).
- Moderate heritability for gray matter volume (0.56) and lateral ventricle volume (0.71).
- Low heritability for cerebellar volume (0.17).
Conclusions:
- Neonatal brain structure is substantially influenced by genetic factors.
- Heritability patterns for brain structures evolve during postnatal development.
- Further research is needed to detail these developmental changes in genetic and environmental influences.
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