title: The GABRB1 gene is associated with thalamus volume and modulates the association between thalamus volume and intelligence.
abstract: The GABRB1 gene encodes the beta 1 subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABA A receptor), which is responsible for mediating inhibitory neurotransmission in the thalamus. Potential relationships between the GABRB1 gene, thalamus volume, and intelligence have been suggested by previous clinical studies, but have not been directly examined among nonclinical samples. The current study collected structural MRI, genetic, and behavioral data from 316 healthy Chinese adults (including 187 females and 129 males), and examined associations between GABRB1 variants, thalamus volume, and intelligence (measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Revised). After controlling for intracranial volume, sex, and age, GABRB1 genetic polymorphism at the SNP rs7435958 had the strongest association with thalamus volume (p = 0.002 and 0.00008 for left and right thalamus volumes, respectively), with GG homozygotes having smaller bilateral thalamus volumes than the other genotypes. Furthermore, there were positive correlations between bilateral thalamus volumes and intelligence, especially for GABRB1 rs7435958 GG female homozygotes (r's = 0.31 and 0.29, p < 0.01, for the correlations of intelligence with left and right thalamus volumes, respectively). This study provides the first evidence for the involvement of the GABRB1 gene in the thalamus structure and their interactive effects on intelligence. Future studies of the thalamus-intelligence associations should consider genetic factors as potential moderators.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: psyzhubi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA. Electronic address: cschen@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Chuansheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Gui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Moyzis
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chongde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C546264:GABRB1 protein, human; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A
keywords: GABRB1; Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit beta-1 gene; Intelligence; Sex differences; Thalamus volume