Genetic correlates of evolutionary adaptations in cognitive functional brain networks and their relationship to human cognitive functioning and disease

• DOI: 10.1101/671610
• Publication Date: 2019-06-22T00:45:19Z
• Authors: Yongbin Wei; Siemon C. de Lange; Lianne H. Scholtens; Kyoko Watanabe; Dirk Jan Ardesch; Philip R. Jansen; Jeanne E. Savage; Longchuan Li; Todd M. Preuss; James K. Rilling; Danielle Posthuma; Martijn P. van de...
• Keywords: Human brain; Salience (neuroscience)

Abstract Cognitive functional networks such as the default-mode network (DMN), frontal-parietal (FPN), and salience (SN), are key of human brain. Here, we show that distinct rapid evolutionary cortical expansion cognitive in brain, most pronounced DMN, runs parallel with high expression genes important for evolution (so-called HAR genes). Comparative gene examination then shows more differentially expressed humans compared to chimpanzee macaque. Genes DMN display broad involvement formation synapses dendrites. Next, performed a genome-wide association analysis on MRI data, associated individual variations connectivity today’s population. Finally, gene-set suggests associations intelligence, social cognition, mental conditions schizophrenia autism. Taken together, our results indicate higher-order their properties have been an locus change recent brain evolution.