Cerebral cortex thickness (Grasby, 2020)

STUDY TITLE: The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

SUMMARY: Identification of 27 genetic regions associated with cortical thickness.

OVERVIEW: The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain that is responsible for cognitive tasks such as perception, thought, and memory. The thick cortex of the human brain is believed to have evolved to fulfill these functions. To identify genetic variants associated with cortical thickness, this study combined genetic data with brain imaging data from over 50,000 individuals. The study identified 27 genetic regions, which explain an estimated 26% of the heritability of cortical thickness. These regions are near genes that encode laminin receptors which are implicated in neuronal cell differentiation and migration.

DID YOU KNOW? “Thickheaded” is a misnomer. Although “thickheadedness” typically refers to a person who is not intelligent, some neuroimaging studies indicate that intelligence is positively correlated with cortical thickness during early childhood. [SOURCE]

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Sample results for Cerebral cortex thickness

ANALYZED VARIANTS: rs71471500 rs10851383 rs62002282 rs56023709 rs149142 rs533577 rs2316766 rs11692435 rs117461235 rs62115964 rs117461235 rs4955920 rs11386753 rs35021943 rs4823878 rs160459 rs10495963 rs1822105 rs3847803 rs73215353 rs7824177 rs12058942 rs4572176 rs11745941 rs12110247 rs9537915 rs12764880

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Video
Cerebral thickness

WEEKLY UPDATE: March 31, 2020

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