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Springer, Brain Imaging and Behavior, 5(11), p. 1497-1514, 2016

DOI: 10.1007/s11682-016-9629-z

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Human subcortical brain asymmetries in 15,847 people worldwide reveal effects of age and sex

Journal article published in 2016 by Tulio Guadalupe, Samuel R. Mathias, Theo G. M. vanErp, Christopher D. Whelan, Odile A. van Den Heuvel, Marcel P. Zwiers, Mathias Sr, vanErp Tg, Zwiers Mp, vanErp Tgm, Baboyan Vg, Greig I. de Zubicaray, Sonja M. C. de Zwarte, Andrea Gonzalez Suarez, Andreassen Oa and other authors.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

The two hemispheres of the human brain differ functionally and structurally. Despite over a century of research, the extent to which brain asymmetry is influenced by sex, handedness, age, and genetic factors is still controversial. Here we present the largest ever analysis of subcortical brain asymmetries, in a harmonized multi-site study using meta-analysis methods. Volumetric asymmetry of seven subcortical structures was assessed in 15,847 MRI scans from 52 datasets worldwide. There were sex differences in the asymmetry of the globus pallidus and putamen. Heritability estimates, derived from 1170 subjects belonging to 71 extended pedigrees, revealed that additive genetic factors influenced the asymmetry of these two structures and that of the hippocampus and thalamus. Handedness had no detectable effect on subcortical asymmetries, even in this unprecedented sample size, but the asymmetry of the putamen varied with age. Genetic drivers of asymmetry in the hippocampus, thalamus and basal ganglia may affect variability in human cognition, including susceptibility to psychiatric disorders.