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PMID: 21378112 Published · ppublish English Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Twin Study

Genetic and environmental contributions to regional cortical surface area in humans: a magnetic resonance imaging twin study.

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) ·Vol. 21 ·No. 10 ·2011-10-00 ·Pages 2313-21

Eyler LT, Prom-Wormley E, Panizzon MS, Kaup AR, Fennema-Notestine C, Neale MC, Jernigan TL, Fischl B, Franz CE, Lyons MJ, Grant M, Stevens A, Pacheco J, Perry ME, Schmitt JE, Seidman LJ, Thermenos HW, Tsuang MT, Chen CH, Thompson WK, Jak A, Dale AM, Kremen WS

Abstract

Cortical surface area measures appear to be functionally relevant and distinct in etiology, development, and behavioral correlates compared with other size characteristics, such as cortical thickness. Little is known about genetic and environmental influences on individual differences in regional surface area in humans. Using a large sample of adult twins, we determined relative contributions of genes and environment on variations in regional cortical surface area as measured by magnetic resonance imaging before and after adjustment for genetic and environmental influences shared with total cortical surface area. We found high heritability for total surface area and, before adjustment, moderate heritability for regional surface areas. Compared with other lobes, heritability was higher for frontal lobe and lower for medial temporal lobe. After adjustment for total surface area, regionally specific genetic influences were substantially reduced, although still significant in most regions. Unlike other lobes, left frontal heritability remained high after adjustment. Thus, global and regionally specific genetic factors both influence cortical surface areas. These findings are broadly consistent with results from animal studies regarding the evolution and development of cortical patterning and may guide future research into specific environmental and genetic determinants of variation among humans in the surface area of particular regions.

MeSH Terms
Animals Brain Mapping/methods Cerebral Cortex/physiology Humans Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods Male Middle Aged Quantitative Trait, Heritable Social Environment
Authors & Affiliations
23 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Eyler Lisa T
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. [email protected]
Prom-Wormley Elizabeth
Panizzon Matthew S
Kaup Allison R
Fennema-Notestine Christine
Neale Michael C
Jernigan Terry L
Fischl Bruce
Franz Carol E
Lyons Michael J
Grant Michael
Stevens Allison
Pacheco Jennifer
Perry Michele E
Schmitt J Eric
Seidman Larry J
Thermenos Heidi W
Tsuang Ming T
Chen Chi-Hua
Thompson Wesley K
Jak Amy
Dale Anders M
Kremen William S
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Article Info
Journal
Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
Abbr.
Cereb Cortex
ISSN
1460-2199
DOI
10.1093/cercor/bhr013
Email
[email protected]
Published
2011-10-00
Epub
2011-00-04
Pages
2313-21
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
9110718
PMCID
PMC3169660
Subset
IM
Grants
NCRR NIH HHS · P41-RR14075 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · T32 MH20030 · United States
NIA NIH HHS · R01 AG018386 · United States
NIBIB NIH HHS · R01 EB006758 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · R01 NS052585-01 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · R01 MH083968 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · R01 DA18673 · United States
NCRR NIH HHS · U24 RR021382 · United States
NIA NIH HHS · R01 AG22381 · United States
NIA NIH HHS · R01 AG 22982 · United States
NIA NIH HHS · R01 AG18386 · United States
NIA NIH HHS · R01 AG18384 · United States
NIA NIH HHS · R01 AG022381 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhr013 PMC Full Text View journal details
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