Neanderthal-Derived Genetic Variation is Associated with Functional Connectivity in the Brains of Living Humans

• DOI: 10.1089/brain.2020.0809
• Publication Date: 2020-11-21T05:52:20Z
• Authors: Michael D. Gregory; J. Shane Kippenhan; Philip Kohn; Daniel P. Eisenberg; Joseph H. Callicott; Bhaskar Kolachana; Karen F. Berman
• Keywords: Neanderthal; Intraparietal sulcus

Aim: To determine whether Neanderthal-derived genetic variation relates to functional connectivity patterns in the brains of living modern humans. Introduction: Nearly 50,000 years ago, Neanderthals interbred with ancestors humans, imparting a legacy that lives on today. The vestiges this have been previously shown be enriched genes coding for neurogenesis and myelination alter skull shape brain structure people. Materials Methods: Using two independent cohorts totaling 553 healthy individuals, we employed multivariate distance matrix regression (MDMR) any areas exhibited whole-brain significantly related degree Neanderthal introgression. Identified clusters were then used as regions interest follow-up seed-based analyses driving relationships. Results: MDMR analysis revealed percentage Neanderthal-originating polymorphisms was associated an area intraparietal sulcus (IPS) nearly identical both cohorts. these IPS analyses, found, again cohorts, individuals higher proportion showed increased visual processing regions, but decreased underlying social cognition. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate remnants admixture continue influence human function today, ways are consistent anthropological conceptualizations phenotypes, including possibility may depended upon capabilities at expense cognition, contributed extinction species through reduced cultural maintenance inability cope fluctuating resources. This other studies capitalizing emerging science surrounding ancient DNA provide window which view lineage long past.