Genetic and phylogenetic uncoupling of structure and function in human transmodal cortex

Journal article

Brain structure scaffolds intrinsic function, supporting cognition and ultimately behavioral flexibility. However, it remains unclear how a static, genetically controlled architecture supports flexible cognition and behavior. Here, we synthesize genetic, phylogenetic and cognitive analyses to understand how the macroscale organization of structure-function coupling across the cortex can inform its role in cognition. In humans, structure-function coupling was highest in regions of unimodal cortex and lowest in transmodal cortex, a pattern that was mirrored by a reduced alignment with heritable connectivity profiles. Structure-function uncoupling in macaques had a similar spatial distribution, but we observed an increased coupling between structure and function in association cortices relative to humans. Meta-analysis suggested regions with the least genetic control (low heritable correspondence and different across primates) are linked to social-cognition and autobiographical memory. Our findings suggest that genetic and evolutionary uncoupling of structure and function in different transmodal systems may support the emergence of complex forms of cognition.

Authors: Valk, SL; Xu, T; Paquola, C; Park, B-Y; Bethlehem, RAI

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 2341-2341
• Article number: 2341
• Publication date: 2022-05-09
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29886-1
• EISSN: 2041-1723
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• Language: English
• Keywords: Genetics; Zoology; Biology; Function (biology); Evolutionary biology; Phylogenetic tree; Phylogenetics; Gene