Abstract
The folding of the human cerebral cortex is a highly genetically regulated process that allows for a much larger surface area to fit into the cranial vault and optimizes functional organization. Sulcal depth is a robust yet understudied measure of localized folding, previously associated with multiple neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we report the first genome-wide association study of sulcal depth. Through the multivariate omnibus statistical test (MOSTest) applied to vertex-wise measures from 33,748 U.K. Biobank participants (mean age, 64.3 years; 52.0% female), we identified 856 genome-wide significant loci (P < 5 x 10(-8)). Comparisons with cortical thickness and surface area indicated that sulcal depth has higher locus yield, heritability, and effective sample size. There was a large amount of genetic overlap between these traits, with gene-based analyses indicating strong associations with neurodevelopmental processes. Our findings demonstrate sulcal depth is a promising neuroimaging phenotype that may enhance our understanding of cortical morphology.
Original language | English |
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Article number | eabj9446 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Science advances |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 51 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2021 |
Keywords
- CEREBRAL-CORTEX
- TANGENTIAL EXPANSION
- ABNORMALITIES
- GYRIFICATION
- VARIABILITY
- GUIDANCE
- PROFILE