Genetic variation shapes modes of population covariation linking brain and behavior

COEX 

Adolescence is a pivotal phase in human development marked by significant transformations in brain and behavior. As individuals transition from childhood to adulthood, the brain undergoes dynamic changes in its structure and function, influencing cognitive, emotional, and social behaviors. The development of the adolescent brain and behavior is intricately shaped by a complex interplay of genetic factors and environmental influences^1,2. Yet, how genetic variation influences the multifaceted relationship between the brain and behavior remains understudied.
Copy number variations (CNVs) represent a notable source of genetic variation. This class of genetic mutations is defined as either a deletion or duplication of sequences of nucleotides more than 1000 base pairs long^3,4. It is increasingly recognized that many CNVs exert far-reaching consequences throughout the body, making them a sharp imaging-genetics tool for interrogating the effects of genetic modifications on brain physicality and behavioral differentiation^5,6. We thus hypothesize that CNVs shape the complex brain-behavior relationship.