Integration across biophysical scales identifies molecular and cellular correlates of person-to-person variability in human brain connectivity.

Ng B, Tasaki S, Greathouse KM, Walker CK, Zhang A, Covitz S, Cieslak M, Weber AJ, Adamson AB, Andrade JP, Poovey EH, Curtis KA, Muhammad HM, Seidlitz J, Satterthwaite T, Bennett DA, Seyfried NT, Vogel J, Gaiteri C, Herskowitz JH

Nat. Neurosci. 27 (11) 2240-2252 [2024-11-00; online 2024-10-31]

Brain connectivity arises from interactions across biophysical scales, ranging from molecular to cellular to anatomical to network level. To date, there has been little progress toward integrated analysis across these scales. To bridge this gap, from a unique cohort of 98 individuals, we collected antemortem neuroimaging and genetic data, as well as postmortem dendritic spine morphometric, proteomic and gene expression data from the superior frontal and inferior temporal gyri. Through the integration of the molecular and dendritic spine morphology data, we identified hundreds of proteins that explain interindividual differences in functional connectivity and structural covariation. These proteins are enriched for synaptic structures and functions, energy metabolism and RNA processing. By integrating data at the genetic, molecular, subcellular and tissue levels, we link specific biochemical changes at synapses to connectivity between brain regions. These results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating data from vastly different biophysical scales to provide a more comprehensive understanding of brain connectivity.

DDLS Fellow

Jacob W Vogel

PubMed 39482360

DOI 10.1038/s41593-024-01788-z

Crossref 10.1038/s41593-024-01788-z

pmc: PMC11537986
pii: 10.1038/s41593-024-01788-z


Publications 9.5.1