Inherited and learned functions of the brain
In simple processes of perception, the structure and function of brain regions are hereditary. This is not the case for more abstract and complex processes – here, environmental influences have an impact, reports an international research team in the journal “Nature Communications”. (Source: Forschungszentrum Jülich – Press releases)
Brain researchers have long been interested in how the structure and function of our brain are connected and which connections are hereditary. For simple processes of perception such as seeing, hearing or tasting, for example, it is true that similarly structured brain regions work together in a network; researchers speak of a structure-function coupling of brain areas. This connection is also inherited. This is shown by the team led by Sofie Valk, who works at the Jülich Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7) and the MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig , and whose work is linked to Topic 5: “Decoding Brain Organization and Dysfunction” of Program 2: “Natural, Artificial and Cognitive Information Processing” of the Helmholtz Research Field Information. It is different for brain regions that enable more abstract and complex processes, such as those related to social cognition and autobiographical memory. The coupling of function with specific brain structures decreases here, it is not inherited and can therefore adapt particularly flexibly to changing environmental and cultural influences.
Macaques, which are medium-sized primates, showed similar patterns. However, the effect was much weaker in the frontal and parietal regions, which are precisely the regions that enable more abstract and complex processes. This suggests that the relationship between structure and function in these areas is more decoupled in humans than in their closest relatives – possibly an evolutionarily relevant change related to typical human behavior.
These new findings can help to more accurately describe and understand how genes and experiences shape human brain structure and function and are related to individual differences in human cognition.
The original press release can be found at:
Vererbte und erlernte Funktionen des Gehirns (only in german)
The original publication can be found at:
Sofie L. Valk, Ting Xu, Casey Paquola, Bo-yong Park, Richard A. I. Bethlehem, Reinder Vos de Wael, Jessica Royer, Shahrzad Kharabian Masouleh, Şeyma Bayrak, Peter Kochunov, B. T. Thomas Yeo, Daniel Margulies, Jonathan Smallwood, Simon B. Eickhoff & Boris C. Bernhardt, Genetic and Phylogenetic Uncoupling of Structure and Function in Human Transmodal Cortex, Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29886-1
Localization in the Helmholtz Research Field Information:
Helmholtz Research Field Information, Program 2: Natural, Artificial and Cognitive Information Processing, Topic 5: Decoding Brain Organization and Dysfunction
Contact:
Dr. Sofie Valk
Leiterin der Gruppe Gehirn und Verhalten am Institut für Neurowissenschaften und Medizin (INM)
Forschungszentrum Jülich
Tel.: +49 2461/61-2975
E-Mail: s.valk@fz-juelich.de
Contact for this press release:
Dr. Barbara Schunk
Press Officer
Forschungszentrum Jülich
Phone: +49 2461 61-8031
E-Mail: b.schunk@fz-juelich.de
