Imaging genetics of language network functional connectivity reveals links with language-related abilities, dyslexia and handedness
Language is supported by a distributed network of brain regions with a particular contribution from the left hemisphere. A multi-level understanding of this network requires studying its genetic architecture. We used resting-state imaging data from 29,681 participants (UK Biobank) to measure connectivity between 18 left-hemisphere regions involved in multimodal sentence-level processing, as well as their right-hemisphere homotopes, and interhemispheric connections. Multivariate genome-wide association analysis of this total network, based on genetic variants with population frequencies >1%, identified 14 genomic loci, of which three were also associated with asymmetry of intrahemispheric connectivity. Polygenic dispositions to lower language-related abilities, dyslexia and left-handedness were associated with generally reduced leftward asymmetry of functional connectivity. Exome-wide association analysis based on rare, protein-altering variants (frequencies <1%) suggested 7 additional genes. These findings shed new light on genetic contributions to language network organization and related behavioural traits.
Authors
- Sourena Soheili‐Nezhad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3571-1270)
- Jitse S. Amelink (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4633-1215)
- Marc Joliot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7792-308X)
- Amaia Carrión-Castillo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0226-0642)
- Dick Schijven (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5190-7241)
- Clyde Francks (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9098-890X)
- Zhiqiang Sha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6604-6202)
- Barbara Molz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9300-761X)
- Merel C. Postema (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1536-7062)
- Simon E. Fisher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3132-1996)
- Xiang-Zhen Kong
Institutions
- Ikerbasque (ES)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (CN)
- Radboud University Medical Center (NL)
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives (FR)
- Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (NL)
- Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (ES)
- Zhejiang University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Biology
- Published
- 2024-09-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06890-3
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.37
Funders
- European Commission
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft