TY - JOUR
T1 - Mapping cortical brain asymmetry in 17,141 healthy individuals worldwide via the ENIGMA Consortium
AU - Kong, Xiang-Zhen
AU - Mathias, Samuel R
AU - Guadalupe, Tulio
AU - Glahn, David C
AU - Franke, Barbara
AU - Crivello, Fabrice
AU - Tzourio-Mazoyer, Nathalie
AU - Fisher, Simon E
AU - Thompson, Paul M
AU - Francks, Clyde
AU - ENIGMA Laterality Working Group
A2 - Valdes Hernandez, Maria
A2 - Wardlaw, Joanna
A2 - Harris, Mathew
A2 - Luciano, Michelle
PY - 2018/5/29
Y1 - 2018/5/29
N2 - Hemispheric asymmetry is a cardinal feature of human brain organization. Altered brain asymmetry has also been linked to some cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Consortium presents the largest-ever analysis of cerebral cortical asymmetry and its variability across individuals. Cortical thickness and surface area were assessed in MRI scans of 17,141 healthy individuals from 99 datasets worldwide. Results revealed widespread asymmetries at both hemispheric and regional levels, with a generally thicker cortex but smaller surface area in the left hemisphere relative to the right. Regionally, asymmetries of cortical thickness and/or surface area were found in the inferior frontal gyrus, transverse temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex. These regions are involved in lateralized functions, including language and visuospatial processing. In addition to population-level asymmetries, variability in brain asymmetry was related to sex, age, and intracranial volume. Interestingly, we did not find significant associations between asymmetries and handedness. Finally, with two independent pedigree datasets (n = 1,443 and 1,113, respectively), we found several asymmetries showing significant, replicable heritability. The structural asymmetries identified and their variabilities and heritability provide a reference resource for future studies on the genetic basis of brain asymmetry and altered laterality in cognitive, neurological, and psychiatric disorders.
AB - Hemispheric asymmetry is a cardinal feature of human brain organization. Altered brain asymmetry has also been linked to some cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Consortium presents the largest-ever analysis of cerebral cortical asymmetry and its variability across individuals. Cortical thickness and surface area were assessed in MRI scans of 17,141 healthy individuals from 99 datasets worldwide. Results revealed widespread asymmetries at both hemispheric and regional levels, with a generally thicker cortex but smaller surface area in the left hemisphere relative to the right. Regionally, asymmetries of cortical thickness and/or surface area were found in the inferior frontal gyrus, transverse temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex. These regions are involved in lateralized functions, including language and visuospatial processing. In addition to population-level asymmetries, variability in brain asymmetry was related to sex, age, and intracranial volume. Interestingly, we did not find significant associations between asymmetries and handedness. Finally, with two independent pedigree datasets (n = 1,443 and 1,113, respectively), we found several asymmetries showing significant, replicable heritability. The structural asymmetries identified and their variabilities and heritability provide a reference resource for future studies on the genetic basis of brain asymmetry and altered laterality in cognitive, neurological, and psychiatric disorders.
KW - Journal Article
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1718418115
DO - 10.1073/pnas.1718418115
M3 - Article
C2 - 29764998
VL - 115
SP - E5154-E5163
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 22
ER -