Brain similarities among father, mother, and offspring: the TRIO study
Poster No:
960
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Izumi Matsudaira1, Ryo Yamaguchi2, Yasuyuki Taki3
Institutions:
1Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, 2Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku Univerisity, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, 3Smart-Aging Research Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
First Author:
Izumi Matsudaira
Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University
Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University
Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Research suggests that brain structural measures are more strongly correlated between parents and their offspring than between unrelated individuals (Takagi et al., 2021). These parent-offspring brain similarities are expected to provide insights into the mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of psychopathology (Ho et al., 2016). However, many previous findings are based on data from mother-offspring dyads. Examining sex differences in brain structural similarities using data that include fathers is crucial, as distinct patterns in brain development between males and females are well-documented (Kaczkurkin et al., 2019).
Therefore, we examined differences in brain structural similarities across various parent-offspring sex combinations using biological parent-offspring trios (Matsudaira et al., 2024). In addition, having identified similar brain structures in both father-offspring and mother-offspring dyads, we further investigated the similarities in brain structures between fathers and mothers.
Therefore, we examined differences in brain structural similarities across various parent-offspring sex combinations using biological parent-offspring trios (Matsudaira et al., 2024). In addition, having identified similar brain structures in both father-offspring and mother-offspring dyads, we further investigated the similarities in brain structures between fathers and mothers.
Methods:
The study participants were 152 Japanese parent-offspring trios consisting of 3 members: male and female offspring aged 15 to 38 and their biological father and mother aged 65 and younger. This research was part of an ongoing project, the Transmit Radiant Individuality to Offspring (TRIO) study (Matsudaira et al., 2023).
T1-weighted and T2-weighted brain images were acquired using a Philips 3-Tesla MRI scanner. All neuroimaging data was preprocessed using FreeSurfer. Cortical thickness (CT), surface area (SA), and local gyrification index (LGI) for each brain region were calculated based on the Human Connectome Project Multi-Modal Parcellation version 1.0 (HCP-MMP1) atlas (Glasser et al., 2016). Subcortical volume (SV) was calculated based on the Automatic Subcortical Segmentation atlas (Fischl et al., 2002).
The similarity of brain features was defined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. 1,000 permutations were performed to create random unrelated pairs (random combinations of parent and unrelated offspring). We examined whether the correlation coefficients of actual parent-offspring dyads were significantly larger than those of unrelated pairs using a test for the difference in correlation coefficients (Dimanova et al., 2023). A statistical threshold was set at and FDR-corrected p-value (q-value) < 0.05.
Those analysis were conducted separately for each sex combination (father-son, father-daughter, mother-son, mother-daughter). The analysis of similarities between fathers and mothers was conducted using the same procedure.
T1-weighted and T2-weighted brain images were acquired using a Philips 3-Tesla MRI scanner. All neuroimaging data was preprocessed using FreeSurfer. Cortical thickness (CT), surface area (SA), and local gyrification index (LGI) for each brain region were calculated based on the Human Connectome Project Multi-Modal Parcellation version 1.0 (HCP-MMP1) atlas (Glasser et al., 2016). Subcortical volume (SV) was calculated based on the Automatic Subcortical Segmentation atlas (Fischl et al., 2002).
The similarity of brain features was defined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. 1,000 permutations were performed to create random unrelated pairs (random combinations of parent and unrelated offspring). We examined whether the correlation coefficients of actual parent-offspring dyads were significantly larger than those of unrelated pairs using a test for the difference in correlation coefficients (Dimanova et al., 2023). A statistical threshold was set at and FDR-corrected p-value (q-value) < 0.05.
Those analysis were conducted separately for each sex combination (father-son, father-daughter, mother-son, mother-daughter). The analysis of similarities between fathers and mothers was conducted using the same procedure.
Results:
The analysis based on parent-offspring sex combinations revealed that, for both sons and daughters, there are brain regions that are similar only to the father, only to the mother, to both parents, and to neither parent (Figure 1). Briefly, daughters exhibited similarities with their fathers and/or mothers in numerous brain regions, compared to sons. The volumes of the hippocampus and caudate nucleus were similar between same-sex parent-offspring dyads. On the other hand, the right lateral ventricle volume and the CT of the left 6a (area 6 anterior) and right IP0 (area intraparietal 0) were similar between opposite-sex parent-offspring dyads.
Significant similarities were observed between fathers and mothers in the LGI of many regions and the CT of areas such as the somatosensory cortex (Figure 2). No regions showed similarities in SA and SV between fathers and mothers.
Significant similarities were observed between fathers and mothers in the LGI of many regions and the CT of areas such as the somatosensory cortex (Figure 2). No regions showed similarities in SA and SV between fathers and mothers.
Conclusions:
The results of this study suggest that the development of certain brain regions may be influenced by parent of origin effects. Moreover, the identification of brain regions that are similar between father-offspring and mother-offspring dyads, as well as significantly similar between fathers and mothers, suggests the potential involvement of assortative mating at the neural level in human brain development. The advancement of this study will contribute to further understanding of intergenerational transmission.
Lifespan Development:
Early life, Adolescence, Aging 1
Normal Brain Development: Fetus to Adolescence 2
Keywords:
ADULTS
Development
MRI
NORMAL HUMAN
Psychiatric
STRUCTURAL MRI
Structures
Other - sex differences; intergenerational transmission; parent-offspring trios;
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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