Heritability of Heschl's GyrusSitar, Anamarija (Avtor) Golestani, Narly (Mentor) Kepinska, Olga (Komentor) Heschl’s gyrusheritabilityACE modelbrain segmentationtwin studyHuman Connectome Project (HCP)The human brain’s intricacies have long captivated researchers, driving them to unravel the interplay of genetics and environment in shaping its structures. Heschl’s gyrus (HG), crucial for auditory processing, exhibits notable variability among individuals and hemispheres, with structural differences linked to language proficiency, learning abilities, and dyslexia. This twin study aimed to ascertain HG heritability, focusing on cortical thickness and surface area. We hypothesized greater heritability for surface area than thickness and an estimated cortical thickness heritability of around 50%. Leveraging MRI data from 452 participants in the Human Connectome Project dataset, we employed the innovative Toolbox for the Automated Segmentation of HG (TASH) for brain segmentation. Structural equation modeling (SEM), specifically the ACE model, revealed higher heritability estimates for left hemisphere cortical thickness (55%), with bilateral thickness at 66% and right hemisphere thickness at 18%. Conversely, surface area heritability estimates were lower, with the left hemisphere at 2%, right hemisphere at -15%, and bilateral area at 7%. These results, while partially aligning with previous literature, contradict the initial hypothesis, as no significant heritability of HG surface area was detected. Despite the informative results, caution must be exercised when interpreting the heritability of HG area, as the sample power was too low to detect the higher heritability of this feature. Nevertheless, robust heritability estimates for cortical thickness align with prior literature. Future studies utilizing larger datasets can enhance statistical power, yielding more robust insights into genetic and environmental influences on cortical structure, particularly in regions like HG. Moreover, advanced segmentation tools like TASH could deepen understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms of HG and primary auditory regions, enriching our comprehension of auditory processing and cognitive functions.20242024-10-22 13:53:29Magistrsko delo/naloga164329sl