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Published on: January 2, 2012
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Imaging local genetic influences on cortical folding.
Aaron F Alexander-Bloch1,2, Armin Raznahan3, Simon N Vandekar4
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104; aaron.alexander-bloch@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Summary
Genetically patterned local brain cortical thickness influences folding. These genetic factors, measurable with in vivo MRI, show varied strength and orientation, impacting gyri and sulci formation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Genetics
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Understanding human brain cortical folding mechanisms is incomplete regarding genetic influences.
- Previous studies lacked the resolution to examine local genetic effects on cortical folding patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spatially patterned genetic influences on human brain cortical folding.
- To develop and apply methods for examining local genetic effects on cortical thickness.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-resolution in vivo brain MRI to estimate genetic correlations in interregional cortical thickness.
- Developed novel methodological approaches to analyze local genetic influences on cortical thickness.
- Applied these methods to two large, independent samples.
Main Results:
- Identified heterogeneous strengths of local genetic influences on cortical thickness, varying by cortical area and orientation.
- Found significant shared genetic factors underlying local cortical thickness correlations, exhibiting high hemispheric symmetry.
- Demonstrated a systematic relationship between local cortical folding and the strength of local genetic correlations, with higher correlations in gyral crests.
Conclusions:
- Patterned genetic influences on cortical thickness are a potential causal factor in human brain cortical folding.
- The strength and orientation of these genetic influences vary across the cortex.
- Genetic constraints on cortical folding are stronger in primary sensorimotor areas than in association areas.
