Cited by 53Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsCognitive Abilities and TestingGenetic Associations and Epidemiology

White Matter Heritability Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Neonatal Brains

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Geng, Xiujuan, Prom-Wormley, Elizabeth C., Perez, Javier, Kubarych, Thomas, Styner, Martin, Lin, Weili, Neale, Michael C., Gilmore, John H.·2012·Twin Research and Human Genetics

Abstract

Understanding genetic and environmental effects on white matter development in the first years of life is of great interest, as it provides insights into the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. In this study, the genetic and environmental effects on white matter were estimated using data from 173 neonatal twin subjects. Diffusion tensor imaging scans were acquired around 40 days after birth and were non-rigidly registered to a group-specific atlas and parcellated into 98 ROIs. A model of additive genetic, and common and specific environmental variance components was used to estimate overall and regional genetic and environmental contributions to diffusion parameters of fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity, and axial diffusivity. Correlations between the regional heritability values and diffusion parameters were also examined. Results indicate that individual differences in overall white matter microstructure, represented by the average diffusion parameters over the whole brain, are heritable, and estimates are higher than found in studies in adults. Estimates of genetic and environmental variance components vary considerably across different white matter regions. Significant positive correlations between radial diffusivity heritability and radial diffusivity values are consistent with regional genetic variation being modulated by maturation status in the neonatal brain: the more mature the region is, the less genetic variation it shows. Common environmental effects are present in a few regions that tend to be characterized by low radial diffusivity. Results from the joint diffusion parameter analysis suggest that multivariate modeling approaches might be promising to better estimate maturation status and its relationship with genetic and environmental effects.

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Authors
Geng, X., Prom-Wormley, E. C., Perez, J., Kubarych, T., Styner, M., Lin, W., Neale, M. C., & Gilmore, J. H.
Affiliations
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
Corresponding author
Geng, Xiujuan
Venue
Twin Research and Human Genetics
Published
2012-06
Volume
15
Issue
3
Pages
336-350
ISSN
  • 1832-4274 (ISSN-L)
  • 1839-2628
OpenAlex
W2167339403
Cited by
53
References
42
Citations by year
2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
FWCI
5.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Twin Research and Human Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
  • UNC Libraries
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (MH-20030, MH070890)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (U01MH070890, MH-20030, MH070890, R01MH065322, 20030, MH 65322, R01MH091645, R01MH070890, T32MH020030)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Keywords
neonatal brain, twin studies, genetic and environmental effects, fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity, axial diffusivity, white matter microstructure, brain maturation, regional genetic variation, neurodevelopmental disorders
MeSH terms
Birth Weight, Brain, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Twins, Quantitative Trait, Heritable, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Gene-Environment Interaction

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