The human brain is a marvel of complexity. It contains specialized and interconnected structures controlling our thoughts, personality and behavior. The size and shape of our brains also play a crucial role in cognitive functions and mental health.
For example, a slightly smaller hippocampus, the structure responsible for regulation of memory and emotion, is commonly seen in depression . In dementia, atrophy of the hippocampus is correlated with memory loss and cognitive decline. Despite these insights, we have only scratched the surface of understanding the brain and its connection to mental health.
In collaboration with scientists around the world, we have conducted the world's largest genetic study of the volume of regional structures of the brain. This study is now published in Nature Genetics . We discovered hundreds of genetic variants that influence the size of structures, such as the amygdala (the "processing center" for emotions), the hippocampus and the thalamus (involved in movement and sensory signals).
We uncovered their potential overlap with genes known to influence the risk of certain developmental, psychiatric and neurological disorders. More than 70,000 brains To understand how the brain connects to mental health, scientists like ourselves engage in large-scale scientific studies that span the globe. These studies, which involve thousands of volunteers, are the bedrock of modern biomedical research.
They help us discover genes associated with brain size and .
