Structural covariance in the human cortex
Open accessAbstract
The morphology of the human cortex varies remarkably across individuals, regardless of overall brain size. It is currently unclear whether related cortical regions covary in gray matter density, as a result of mutually trophic influences or common experience-related plasticity. We acquired a structural magnetic resonance imaging scan from 172 subjects and extracted the regional gray matter densities from 12 readily identifiable regions of interest involved in sensorimotor or higher-order cognitive functions. We then used these values to predict regional densities in the remaining areas of the cortex, using voxel-based morphometry. This revealed patterns of positive and negative covariance that provide insight into the topographical organization of multiple cortical regions. We report that the gray matter density of a region is a good predictor of the density of the homotopic region in the contralateral hemisphere, with the striking exception of primary visual cortex. Whereas some regions express patterns of regional covariance that are mirror symmetrical relative to the interhemispheric fissure, other regions express asymmetric patterns of regional covariance. Finally, patterns of covariance are remarkably consistent between males and females, with the exception of the left amygdala, which is positively associated with the left and right anterior inferior temporal cortex in males and with the right angular gyrus in females. Our study establishes that the density of different cortical regions is coordinated within an individual. The coordinated variations we report are likely to be determined by both genetic and environmental factors and may be the basis for differences in individual behavior.
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Correlation patterns showed high correlations between contralateral homologous regions and neighboring ipsilateral regions.
“High correlations were observed between contralateral homologous regions and neighboring ipsilateral regions”
From Developmental Changes in Organization of Structural Brain Networks (2013) · cites this paper as Mechelli et al. 2005
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- Authors
- Mechelli, A., Friston, K. J., Frackowiak, R. S., & Price, C. J.
- Affiliations
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (GB)
- Venue
- The Journal of Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Society for Neuroscience
- Published
- 2005-09-07
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 36
- Pages
- 8303-8310
- ISSN
- 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
- 1529-2401
- PMC
- PMC6725541
- OpenAlex
- W2011484875
- Cited by
- 606
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 31
- FWCI
- 8.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust (051067)
- National Institutes of Health
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- structural covariance, gray matter density, human cortex, contralateral hemisphere, primary visual cortex, sex differences, amygdala, angular gyrus, inferior temporal cortex, voxel-based morphometry
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cerebral Cortex, Female, Frontal Lobe, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Functional Laterality, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Periaqueductal Gray
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