Cognitive traits link to human chromosomal regions

Behav Genet. 2006 Jan;36(1):65-76. doi: 10.1007/s10519-005-9008-9. Epub 2005 Dec 10.

Abstract

: Human cognition in normal and disease states is both environmentally and genetically mediated. Except for measures of language-specific abilities, however, few cognitive measures have been associated with specific genes or chromosomal regions. We performed genome-wide linkage analysis of five neuropsychological tests in the Collaborative Study on Genetics of Alcoholism sample. The sample included 1579 individuals (53% female, 76% White Non-Hispanic) in 217 families. There were 390 markers with mean inter-marker distance of 9.6 cM. Performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, a component of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-R, showed significant linkage to 14q11.2 and suggestive linkage to 14q 24.2. This test of sustained visual attention also involves visual-motor coordination and executive functions. Performance on the WAIS-R Digit Span Test of immediate memory and mental flexibility showed suggestive linkage to 11q 25. Although the validity of these results beyond populations with a susceptibility for alcohol dependence is unclear, these results are among the first linkage results for non-language components of cognition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcoholism / genetics
  • Attention
  • Chromosome Mapping*
  • Chromosomes, Human*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Family
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intelligence Tests
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pedigree