title: Subcortical correlates of individual differences in aptitude.
abstract: The study of individual differences encompasses broad constructs including intelligence, creativity, and personality. However, substantially less research is devoted to the study of specific aptitudes in spite of their importance to educational, occupational, and avocational success. We sought to determine subcortical brain structural correlates of several broad aptitudes including Math, Vocabulary, Foresight, Paper Folding, and Inductive Reasoning in a large (N = 107), healthy, young (age range  = 16-29) cohort. Subcortical volumes were measured using an automated technique (FreeSurfer) across structures including bilateral caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, amygdala, and five equal regions of the corpus callosum. We found that performance on measures of each aptitude was predicted by different subcortical structures: Math--higher right nucleus accumbens volume; Vocabulary--higher left hippocampus volume; Paper Folding--higher right thalamus volume; Foresight--lower right thalamus and higher mid anterior corpus callosum volume; Inductive Reasoning--higher mid anterior corpus callosum volume. Our results support general findings, within the cognitive neurosciences, showing lateralization of structure-function relationships, as well as more specific relationships between individual structures (e.g., left hippocampus) and functions relevant to particular aptitudes (e.g., Vocabulary).
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Rex E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sephira G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ryman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Andrei A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vakhtin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wertz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ranee A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Flores
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001076:Aptitude / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult