Size does matter: Scientists discover gene linking gray matter to intelligence
Scientists have found a gene that links thickness of the brain’s gray matter and intelligence. The find could open the door to understanding why some people have learning problems – and even give an insight into psychiatric disorders.
Researchers at King’s College London have discovered a gene that draws a link between the thickness of gray matter in the brain and a person’s level of intelligence. The findings of the research were published in the scientific journal Molecular Psychiatry on Tuesday.
The gray matter itself plays an important role in perceptual awareness, language and consciousness. Prior to this study, scientists had already found a correlation between the thickness of gray matter and an individual’s intelligence, but no genes had been discovered.
The scientists examined brain scans from over 1,500 14- year -olds, looking closely at the outermost layer of the brain, the cerebral cortex. They also took samples of participants’ DNA and then tested their levels of verbal and non-verbal intelligence.
“We wanted to find out how structural differences in the brain relate to differences in the intellectual ability,” said Sylvane Desrivieres, lead author of the study. “The genetic variation we identified is linked to synaptic plasticity, how neurons communicate.”
After looking at over 54,000 genetic variations associated with the make-up of the brain, they discovered that participants carrying a particular gene were more likely to have a thinner cortex in the left cerebral hemisphere. These participants did not perform as well in the intellectual tests as those who had thicker cerebral cortexes.
The scientists identified the gene encoding a protein that affects how brain cells communicate as the NPTN gene. Researchers confirmed the gene’s effect by testing it on a mouse and human brain cells in the lab, where they observed different levels of activity in the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
Desrivieres said that the research did not amount to a discovery of “a gene for intelligence.”
“The gene we identified only explains a tiny proportion of the differences in intellectual ability," she said.
The new discoveries will be invaluable, however, in understanding the biology that leads to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism.
"This may help us understand what happens at a neuronal level in certain forms of intellectual impairments, where the ability of the neurons to communicate effectively is somehow compromised,” Desrivieres said.
References:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140211084051.htm
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/iop/news/records/2014/February/Scientists-identify-gene-linking-brain-structure-to-intelligence.aspx
Journal article:
http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/mp2013197a.html
Image via Oregon University
I wonder how much spill over benefit there will be in regards to neurodegenerative conditions.
ReplyDeleteYay science. :)
You are certainly blessed with the intelligence gene Corina Marinescu, interesting post. ;)
ReplyDeleteHow you use it is also important. Too many big brains go to waste.
ReplyDeleteSam Collett thanks! Speaking of creative fusimotors...when I'm going to read your next poem?
ReplyDeleteInteresting finding indeed Michael van Rij =)
ReplyDeleteHopefully something later this week, not sure of the topic though
ReplyDeleteIs not about "big brains" Chris Roberts is about the thickness of the grey matter ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's why this line makes perfect sense for wasted brains - "You're a waste of matter filling the void of space" :)))
Now there's an insult that just rolls off the tongue!
ReplyDeleteWell intelligence is more than grey matter in my opinion...let's not forget that Einstein's brain had a greater ratio of glial cells to neurons. So for now I'm chewing the info and make the connections Josh Rogner
ReplyDeleteHa! Chris Roberts I guess I'm just spitting my rude fusimotors ;)
ReplyDeleteHave the genetics involved in the potential adaptability and growth of the brain been discovered?
ReplyDeleteI did a cursory search and did not see anything but do not have my finger on the pulse, so I am uncertain.
The human brain is the most complex organ there is and we still have a lot to learn about it. The only organ that is irreplaceable (I think, could be wrong)
ReplyDeleteMichael van Rij neurons that fire together, wire together, neurons that fire apart, wire apart. ;)
ReplyDeleteNeuroplasticity is a very wide umbrella...
I shall read about it. :)
ReplyDeleteI disagree Josh Rogner , Noam Chomsky is just an excellent linguist in my opinion. But let's not mix the potions...also math maybe is the language of the Universe but not all of us can "translate" it even if taught properly.
ReplyDeleteI have read a little about neuroplasticity, the way our brain forms new connections through application and experience (correct me if I am wrong).
ReplyDeleteIt is why I believe anyone can learn new skills, that they think they have no talent for. It is a matter of application and spending the time building the skill.
For me, it is drawing and, to a lesser extent, writing. To be proficient, I don't think as much time is needed as people think (maybe 20 or so hours worth, though not all at once). Learning is a logarithmic curve (quickly learn a lot, then it becomes much harder to become 'expert')
Very interesting, especially this place: These results suggested that, by affecting cortical thickness, rs7171755 might influence IQ. Mediation analyses performed to test this hypothesis indicated that the minor A-allele at rs7171755 associates with lower scores for nonverbal IQ (β=−1.239; P=0.0219).
ReplyDeleteAnd this place: We found that expression of NPTN differed by genotypes; individuals homozygotic for the minor A-allele at rs7171755 had lower expression of this gene (P=0.009; Figure 4c). Remarkably, this difference was most notable from adolescence to early adulthood (late 20 s; Figure 4b), suggesting age-dependent effects of rs7171755.
Disagree again Josh Rogner :)
ReplyDeleteI can give you a lot of examples of intellectuals with learning disabilities ...for example Agatha Christie had dysgraphia, Einstein could not talk till age 4 , he did not learn to read until age 9 ..we both know how many books Agatha wrote, and Einstein's work ;)
Math and reading are different than learning to talk. I might agree with Chomsky's theory of innate language acquisition because makes sense ...still I'm skeptical.
So thickness of head is key?
ReplyDeleteAccording to this study, genetic variation is linked to synaptic plasticity David Chako
ReplyDeleteSam Collett you know what would be really interesting? Learn, forget..and relearn ;)
ReplyDeleteI think the point that Josh Rogner is trying to make, is that the differences between our mental abilities are no greater than the differences between our physical abilities, and since most people will certainly have enough muscle force to lift a bucket, so most people will certainly have enough brain power to prove Pythagorean theorem, with which I would tend to agree with.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it really may take Michael Phelps to sweep eight golden medals in Olympics, and Andrew Wiles to prove Fermat's Last Theorem.
I was thinking of these differences, and really, what does make a noticeable difference, and came to ask a question -- just like there are ideas that certainly a dog would never in a lifetime understand, perhaps there are ideas that a person with an IQ of 100 would never understand, yet a person with an IQ of 100 + delta would. (say 5 < delta < 50), and started this discussion: www.halfbakery.com/idea/List_20of_20The_20Hardest_20Ideas_20To_20Grasp ... yet until now, it's still "perhaps," ... I hadn't put much effort into checking this hypothesis.
Mindey I. we are all born with eyes (well most of us) ..however some eyes are blue and some are brown. Some see better some don't, some see better at distance...
ReplyDeleteWhy we should think that we're born with same mental abilities? Just because we are born with a brain?
I'm really bothered by these studies. They leave the door open for many assumptions. If they did an MRI on me, they would have had to toss me out. I have many development disabilities. I was placed in special education classes. Yet, I'm able to join Mensa. Taken many IQ test since childhood, I have learned from my observations and others, that IQ test are subjective.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't cover much about the environment of the teens, which I think is critical.
Correlation is not causation. Which they admit in some parts of the study.
In other words they are still in the dark. I don't think there will be one magic bullet but a whole magazine of bullets to create a more developed brain.
Corina Marinescu we shouldn't... Actually, we are all different. I actually can come up with an example of an individual that has the broadly-applicable ability that may give qualitatively different conceptualization of the world -- the boy who can imagine 5-dimensional objects (i.e., objects in space of five mutually-perpendicular axes). Though may seem like a very specific skill, it's not. It almost surely gives abilities to grasp ideas way above what average person ever would imagine... (of course, assuming technological singularity doesn't arrive, because its arrival may quickly bring great powers to all of our brains)
ReplyDeleteOh, and, btw., let's just not forget that the differences that we see depend on signal-to-noise ratios, and that's why the statistical terms are all around in that paper. They make the term of "difference" precise. There is a difference, and we know of what kind.
I want to clarify, when I asked about the genetics involved in the potential adaptability and growth of the brain I was thinking from the standpoint that, in general, some structures are more adaptable or flexible than others.
ReplyDeleteIt may be a simplistic view but that was the idea I had. :)
This why I love these studies Captain Jack , my brain just loves that open door...and all the "maybe's" behind it ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd it is very important to keep the existing gray matter, because many behavoirs will limit it down quite fast...
ReplyDeleteCorina Marinescu I think to some extent you can relearn something. The memories may still be there, you just need to form the pathways again, perhaps via a different route
ReplyDeleteFor some, there is an incentive evaluation in school and for someone - curiosity. I think memorability here depends on the purpose for which people want to use their knowledge in the future ...
ReplyDeleteMaybe, we can exclude this gene from the gene pool entirely.
ReplyDelete