title: Associations between the CNTNAP2 gene, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and cognitive performance on the Stroop task.
abstract: The CNTNAP2 (contactin-associated protein-like 2) gene, highly expressed in the human prefrontal cortex, has been linked with autism and language impairment. Potential relationships between CNTNAP2, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and cognition have been suggested by previous clinical studies, but have not been directly examined in the same study. The current study collected structural MRI, genetic, and behavioral data in 317 healthy Chinese adults, and examined associations between CNTNAP2 variants, DLPFC, and cognitive performance (measured by the Stroop task). After controlling for intracranial volume, sex, and age, the CNTNAP2 genetic polymorphism at SNP rs7809486 had the strongest association with bilateral DLPFC volume (p=0.00015 and 0.00014 for left and right DLPFC volumes, respectively), with GG homozygotes having greater bilateral DLPFC volumes and surface areas than the other genotypes. Furthermore, TT homozygotes of CNTNAP2 rs4726946 (a nearby SNP that had moderate linkage disequilibrium with rs7809486) had greater left DLPFC volume and surface area, and better cognitive performance than the other genotypes. Subjects with greater left DLPFC surface area had better cognitive performance. Importantly, the left DLPFC surface area mediated the association between the CNTNAP2 rs4726946 genotype and cognitive performance. This study provides the first evidence for associations among the CNTNAP2 gene, left DLPFC structure, and cognitive control.
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; Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zhubi@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Bi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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: School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yunxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 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: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
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; Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chongde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China; D003071:Cognition; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009929:Organ Size; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011930:Reaction Time; D057190:Stroop Test; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C403049:CNTNAP2 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins
keywords: MRI; Stroop; dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; gene; imaging genetics