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    Home > Active Ingredient News > Study of Nervous System > Nat Hum Behav: New research links genes to the function of the human brain

    Nat Hum Behav: New research links genes to the function of the human brain

    • Last Update: 2021-04-20
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
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    March 27, 2021 //--Many mental illnesses have genetic causes, but the exact mechanism of how genes affect advanced brain functions remains a mystery.
    Recently, a new study has provided a blueprint linking human brain functions with genetic characteristics.
    This tool may provide new targets for future treatments.
    The research, published in Nature Human Behaviour on March 25, 2021, establishes a direct connection between gene expression and advanced brain functions by mapping gene markers to the functional processes of the entire human brain.


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    Image source: The Neuro

    The research was conducted under the leadership of Bratislav Misic, a researcher at the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University, Canada.
    The researchers performed machine learning analysis on two open scientific data sets, the gene expression map of the Allen Human Brain Atlas and the functional association map of Neurosynth.
    This allowed them to find the connection between gene expression patterns and brain functional tasks such as memory, attention, and emotion.

    Interestingly, the team found a clear genetic signal that separates cognitive processes (such as attention) from more emotional processes (such as fear).
    This separation can be traced back to gene expression in specific cell types and molecular pathways, providing key insights for future research on mental illness.
    For example, cognition is more related to genetic markers of inhibitory or excitatory neurons.
    However, emotional processes are related to supporting cells such as microglia and astrocytes, which also confirms the theory that inflammation of these cells is a risk factor for mental illness.
    The genetic traits associated with emotions are concentrated in a brain area called the anterior cingulate cortex, which has been shown to be vulnerable in mental illness.

    Misic said: "In this work, we have discovered molecular signals of different mental processes.
    This is exciting because it provides the first to understand how human thoughts and emotions are generated by specific genes, biological pathways, and cell types.
    step.
    "()


    The research was conducted under the leadership of Bratislav Misic, a researcher at the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University, Canada.
    The researchers performed machine learning analysis on two open scientific data sets, the gene expression map of the Allen Human Brain Atlas and the functional association map of Neurosynth.
    This allowed them to find the connection between gene expression patterns and brain functional tasks such as memory, attention, and emotion.


    Interestingly, the team found a clear genetic signal that separates cognitive processes (such as attention) from more emotional processes (such as fear).
    This separation can be traced back to gene expression in specific cell types and molecular pathways, providing key insights for future research on mental illness.
    For example, cognition is more related to genetic markers of inhibitory or excitatory neurons.
    However, emotional processes are related to supporting cells such as microglia and astrocytes, which also confirms the theory that inflammation of these cells is a risk factor for mental illness.
    The genetic traits associated with emotions are concentrated in a brain area called the anterior cingulate cortex, which has been shown to be vulnerable in mental illness.


    Misic said: "In this work, we have discovered molecular signals of different mental processes.
    This is exciting because it provides the first to understand how human thoughts and emotions are generated by specific genes, biological pathways, and cell types.
    step.
    "()


    Original source: Hansen, JY, Markello, RD, Vogel, JW et al.
    Mapping gene transcription and neurocognition across human neocortex .
    Nat Hum Behav (2021).
    https://doi.
    org/10.
    1038/s41562-021-01082-z
    Mapping gene transcription and neurocognition across human neocortex
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