title: Beyond a bigger brain: Multivariable structural brain imaging and intelligence.
abstract: People with larger brains tend to score higher on tests of general intelligence (g). It is unclear, however, how much variance in intelligence other brain measurements would account for if included together with brain volume in a multivariable model. We examined a large sample of individuals in their seventies (n= 672) who were administered a comprehensive cognitive test battery. Using structural equation modelling, we related six common magnetic resonance imaging-derived brain variables that represent normal and abnormal features-brain volume, cortical thickness, white matter structure, white matter hyperintensity load, iron deposits, and microbleeds-togand to fluid intelligence. As expected, brain volume accounted for the largest portion of variance (~ 12%, depending on modelling choices). Adding the additional variables, especially cortical thickness (+~ 5%) and white matter hyperintensity load (+~ 2%), increased the predictive value of the model. Depending on modelling choices, all neuroimaging variables together accounted for 18-21% of the variance in intelligence. These results reveal which structural brain imaging measures relate togover and above the largest contributor, total brain volume. They raise questions regarding which other neuroimaging measures might account for even more of the variance in intelligence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Brain Research Imaging Centre, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Scottish Imaging Network, a Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Maria Del C
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Valdés Hernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Janie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corley
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Brain Research Imaging Centre, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Scottish Imaging Network, a Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Susana Muñoz
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Maniega
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Department of Psychology, School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gow
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Brain Research Imaging Centre, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Scottish Imaging Network, a Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Natalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Royle
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pattie
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada ; Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Canada.
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karama
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Starr
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Brain Research Imaging Centre, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Scottish Imaging Network, a Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bastin
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Brain Research Imaging Centre, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Scottish Imaging Network, a Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wardlaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom ; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Deary
keywords: Brain; Intelligence; MRI; Structural equation modelling; g-factor