title: The contribution of genes to cortical thickness and volume.
abstract: We analyzed brain MRI data from 372 young adult twins to identify cortical regions in which gray matter thickness and volume are influenced by genetics. This was achieved using an A/C/E structural equation model that divides the variance of these traits, at each point on the cortex, into additive genetic (A), shared (C), and unique environmental (E) components. A strong genetic influence was found in frontal and parietal regions. In addition, we correlated cortical thickness with full-scale intelligence quotient for comparison with the A/C/E maps, and several regions where cortical structure was correlated with intelligence quotient are under genetic control. These cortical measures may be useful phenotypes to narrow the search for quantitative trait loci influencing brain structure.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Anand A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leporé
authors.forename: Shantanu H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Agatha D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barysheva
authors.forename: Jason L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Katie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Kori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Greig I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: de Zubicaray
authors.forename: Nicholas G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Margaret J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Arthur W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Toga
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult