Mapping genetic influences on brain fiber architecture with high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI)

We report the first 3D maps of genetic effects on brain fiber complexity. We analyzed HARDI brain imaging data from 90 young adult twins using an information-theoretic measure, the Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD), to gauge the regional complexity of the white matter fiber orientation distribution functions (ODF). HARDI data were fluidly registered using Karcher means and ODF square-roots for interpolation; each subject´s JSD map was computed from the spatial coherence of the ODFs in each voxel´s neighborhood. We evaluated the genetic influences on generalized fiber anisotropy (GFA) and complexity (JSD) using structural equation models (SEM). At each voxel, genetic and environmental components of data variation were estimated, and their goodness of fit tested by permutation. Color- coded maps revealed that the optimal models varied for different brain regions. Fiber complexity was predominantly under genetic control, and was higher in more highly anisotropic regions. These methods show promise for discovering factors affecting fiber connectivity in the brain.