Size of the human corpus callosum is genetically determined: An MRI study in mono and dizygotic twins

Anton Scamvougeras; Debra L. Kigar; Douglas Jones; Daniel R. Weinberger; Sandra F. Witelson

doi:10.1016/S0304-3940(02)01333-2

Size of the human corpus callosum is genetically determined: An MRI study in mono and dizygotic twins

Anton Scamvougeras, Debra L. Kigar, Douglas Jones, Daniel R. Weinberger, Sandra F. Witelson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

The factors determining the large variation seen in human corpus callosum (CC) morphology are as yet unknown. In this study heritability of CC size was assessed by comparing the concordance of CC midsagittal area in 14 monozygotic and 12 dizygotic twin pairs with a mean age of 27 years, using magnetic resonance imaging and various methods of calculating trait heritability. Heritability was high regardless of method of assessment. The application of a structural equation model resulted in the estimate that 94% of the variance in CC midsagittal size is attributable to the genome. This indicates that under normal conditions and before the effects of normal aging, there is very modest influence of the environment on CC morphology. The results suggest that correlates of CC size, such as the pattern of cerebral lateralization, cognitive abilities and neuropsychiatric dysfunction may be associated with the genetic determinants of CC morphology.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	91-94
Number of pages	4
Journal	Neuroscience Letters
Volume	338
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(02)01333-2
State	Published - Feb 27 2003
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Corpus callosum
Genetics
Heritability
Human
Imaging
Twins

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neuroscience(all)

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10.1016/S0304-3940(02)01333-2

Cite this

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title = "Size of the human corpus callosum is genetically determined: An MRI study in mono and dizygotic twins",

abstract = "The factors determining the large variation seen in human corpus callosum (CC) morphology are as yet unknown. In this study heritability of CC size was assessed by comparing the concordance of CC midsagittal area in 14 monozygotic and 12 dizygotic twin pairs with a mean age of 27 years, using magnetic resonance imaging and various methods of calculating trait heritability. Heritability was high regardless of method of assessment. The application of a structural equation model resulted in the estimate that 94% of the variance in CC midsagittal size is attributable to the genome. This indicates that under normal conditions and before the effects of normal aging, there is very modest influence of the environment on CC morphology. The results suggest that correlates of CC size, such as the pattern of cerebral lateralization, cognitive abilities and neuropsychiatric dysfunction may be associated with the genetic determinants of CC morphology.",

keywords = "Corpus callosum, Genetics, Heritability, Human, Imaging, Twins",

author = "Anton Scamvougeras and Kigar, {Debra L.} and Douglas Jones and Weinberger, {Daniel R.} and Witelson, {Sandra F.}",

note = "Funding Information: A.S. held an Ontario Mental Health Foundation fellowship while at McMaster University. This work was supported by research grants NIH NS18954 and MRC 10610 to S.F.W.",

year = "2003",

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doi = "10.1016/S0304-3940(02)01333-2",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "338",

pages = "91--94",

journal = "Neuroscience Letters",

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T1 - Size of the human corpus callosum is genetically determined

T2 - An MRI study in mono and dizygotic twins

AU - Scamvougeras, Anton

AU - Kigar, Debra L.

AU - Jones, Douglas

AU - Weinberger, Daniel R.

AU - Witelson, Sandra F.

N1 - Funding Information: A.S. held an Ontario Mental Health Foundation fellowship while at McMaster University. This work was supported by research grants NIH NS18954 and MRC 10610 to S.F.W.

PY - 2003/2/27

Y1 - 2003/2/27

N2 - The factors determining the large variation seen in human corpus callosum (CC) morphology are as yet unknown. In this study heritability of CC size was assessed by comparing the concordance of CC midsagittal area in 14 monozygotic and 12 dizygotic twin pairs with a mean age of 27 years, using magnetic resonance imaging and various methods of calculating trait heritability. Heritability was high regardless of method of assessment. The application of a structural equation model resulted in the estimate that 94% of the variance in CC midsagittal size is attributable to the genome. This indicates that under normal conditions and before the effects of normal aging, there is very modest influence of the environment on CC morphology. The results suggest that correlates of CC size, such as the pattern of cerebral lateralization, cognitive abilities and neuropsychiatric dysfunction may be associated with the genetic determinants of CC morphology.

AB - The factors determining the large variation seen in human corpus callosum (CC) morphology are as yet unknown. In this study heritability of CC size was assessed by comparing the concordance of CC midsagittal area in 14 monozygotic and 12 dizygotic twin pairs with a mean age of 27 years, using magnetic resonance imaging and various methods of calculating trait heritability. Heritability was high regardless of method of assessment. The application of a structural equation model resulted in the estimate that 94% of the variance in CC midsagittal size is attributable to the genome. This indicates that under normal conditions and before the effects of normal aging, there is very modest influence of the environment on CC morphology. The results suggest that correlates of CC size, such as the pattern of cerebral lateralization, cognitive abilities and neuropsychiatric dysfunction may be associated with the genetic determinants of CC morphology.

KW - Corpus callosum

KW - Genetics

KW - Heritability

KW - Human

KW - Imaging

KW - Twins

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JO - Neuroscience Letters

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ER -

Size of the human corpus callosum is genetically determined: An MRI study in mono and dizygotic twins

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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