PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - JPOFT Guimaraes
AU  - E Sprooten
AU  - CF Beckmann
AU  - B Franke
AU  - J Bralten
TI  - Shared genetic influences on resting-state functional networks of the brain
AID  - 10.1101/2021.02.15.431231
DP  - 2021 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2021.02.15.431231
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/02/15/2021.02.15.431231.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/02/15/2021.02.15.431231.full
AB  - The amplitude of activation in brain resting state networks (RSNs), measured with resting-state functional MRI, is heritable and genetically correlated across RSNs, indicating pleiotropy. Recent univariate genome-wide association studies (GWAS) explored the genetic underpinnings of RSNs, but do not describe their pleiotropic nature. In this study, we used multivariate genomic structural equation modelling to model latent factors that capture shared genomic influences. Using summary statistics from GWAS of 21 RSNs in the UK Biobank (N = 21,081) sample, we show that their genetic organization can be best explained by two distinct but correlated genetic factors that divide multimodal association networks and sensory networks. We identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms and genes associated with the joint architecture of resting-state networks. We conclude that multivariate models of genetic structures can help us to learn more about the biological mechanisms involved in brain function.Competing Interest StatementBarbara Franke has received educational speaking fees from Medice. Christian F. Beckmann is director and shareholder of SBGneuro Ltd.