Mapping cortical brain asymmetry in 17,141 healthy individuals worldwide via the ENIGMA Consortium.



Kong, Xiang-Zhen, Mathias, Samuel R, Guadalupe, Tulio, ENIGMA Laterality Working Group, , Glahn, David C, Franke, Barbara ORCID: 0000-0003-4375-6572, Crivello, Fabrice ORCID: 0000-0001-6950-984X, Tzourio-Mazoyer, Nathalie ORCID: 0000-0002-6236-4390, Fisher, Simon E ORCID: 0000-0002-3132-1996, Thompson, Paul M
et al (show 1 more authors) (2018) Mapping cortical brain asymmetry in 17,141 healthy individuals worldwide via the ENIGMA Consortium. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115 (22). E5154-E5163.

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Abstract

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 (<i>n</i> = 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.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: ENIGMA Laterality Working Group, Cerebral Cortex, Humans, Databases, Factual, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, Child, Child, Preschool, Infant, Female, Male, Young Adult, Neuroimaging
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 24 May 2019 11:01
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2023 00:43
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1718418115
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3042777