Neanderthal-Derived Genetic Variation is Associated with Functional Connectivity in the Brains of Living Humans.

ABSTRACT: Aim: To determine whether Neanderthal-derived genetic variation relates to functional connectivity patterns in the brains of living modern humans. Introduction: Nearly 50,000 years ago, Neanderthals interbred with ancestors of modern humans, imparting a genetic legacy that lives on today. The vestiges of this Neanderthal-derived genetic variation have been previously shown to be enriched in genes coding for neurogenesis and myelination and to alter skull shape and brain structure in living people. Materials and Methods: Using two independent cohorts totaling 553 healthy individuals, we employed multivariate distance matrix regression (MDMR) to determine whether any brain areas exhibited whole-brain functional connectivity patterns that significantl

SUBMITTER: Gregory MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7891204 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature