Abstract
Mathematical ability is heritable and related to several genes expressing proteins in the brain. It is unknown, however, which intermediate neural phenotypes could explain how these genes relate to mathematical ability. Here, we examined genetic effects on cerebral cortical volume of 3–6-year-old children without mathematical training to predict mathematical ability in school at 7–9 years of age. To this end, we followed an exploration sample (n = 101) and an independent replication sample (n = 77). We found that ROBO1, a gene known to regulate prenatal growth of cerebral cortical layers, is associated with the volume of the right parietal cortex, a key region for quantity representation. Individual volume differences in this region predicted up to a fifth of the behavioral variance in mathematical ability. Our findings indicate that a fundamental genetic component of the quantity processing system is rooted in the early development of the parietal cortex.
Highlights
Mathematical ability is shaped by a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors, in which genetic variance explains about 60% of the behavioral variance [1]
Genotypes and structural brain scans were acquired at 3–6 years in an exploration sample (n = 101) and a replication sample (n = 77)
Standardized age-normed test scores of mathematical ability collected at 7–9 years were available for n = 84 out of 101 children in the exploration sample and for n = 75 out of 77 children in the replication sample
Summary
Mathematical ability is shaped by a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors, in which genetic variance explains about 60% of the behavioral variance [1] Building on this evidence, several DNA variants have been found to be associated with mathematical performance, including RP11-815M8.1, FLJ20160, ROBO1, FAM43A/LSG1, SFT2D1, DLD, NRCAM, NUAK1, C14orf, and GRIK1 [2,3,4,5]. Several DNA variants have been found to be associated with mathematical performance, including RP11-815M8.1, FLJ20160, ROBO1, FAM43A/LSG1, SFT2D1, DLD, NRCAM, NUAK1, C14orf, and GRIK1 [2,3,4,5] Many of these variants are located on genes that express proteins in nerve cell tissue [6]. Beyond visual and/or auditory machinery, essential processing resources are provided by attention and execution systems of the prefrontal cortex, a premotor short-term memory
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
