title: Cortical thickness is influenced by regionally specific genetic factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although global brain structure is highly heritable, there is still variability in the magnitude of genetic influences on the size of specific regions. Yet, little is known about the patterning of those genetic influences, i.e., whether the same genes influence structure throughout the brain or whether there are regionally specific sets of genes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We mapped the heritability of cortical thickness throughout the brain using three-dimensional structural magnetic resonance imaging in 404 middle-aged male twins. To assess the amount of genetic overlap between regions, we then mapped genetic correlations between three selected seed points and all other points comprising the continuous cortical surface.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was considerable regional variability in the magnitude of genetic influences on cortical thickness. The primary visual (V1) seed point had strong genetic correlations with posterior sensory and motor areas. The anterior temporal seed point had strong genetic correlations with anterior frontal regions but not with V1. The middle frontal seed point had strong genetic correlations with inferior parietal regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide strong evidence of regionally specific patterns rather than a single, global genetic factor. The patterns are largely consistent with a division between primary and association cortex, as well as broadly defined patterns of brain gene expression, neuroanatomical connectivity, and brain maturation trajectories, but no single explanation appears to be sufficient. The patterns do not conform to traditionally defined brain structure boundaries. This approach can serve as a step toward identifying novel phenotypes for genetic association studies of psychiatric disorders and normal and pathological cognitive aging.
authors: Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0738, USA.
authors: Lars M
authors: LM
authors: Rimol
authors: Matthew S
authors: MS
authors: Panizzon
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Fennema-Notestine
authors: Lisa T
authors: LT
authors: Eyler
authors: Bruce
authors: B
authors: Fischl
authors: Carol E
authors: CE
authors: Franz
authors: Donald J
authors: DJ
authors: Hagler
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Lyons
authors: Michael C
authors: MC
authors: Neale
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Pacheco
authors: Michele E
authors: ME
authors: Perry
authors: J Eric
authors: JE
authors: Schmitt
authors: Michael D
authors: MD
authors: Grant
authors: Larry J
authors: LJ
authors: Seidman
authors: Heidi W
authors: HW
authors: Thermenos
authors: Ming T
authors: MT
authors: Tsuang
authors: Seth A
authors: SA
authors: Eisen
authors: William S
authors: WS
authors: Kremen
authors: Anders M
authors: AM
authors: Dale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics