Genetic and environmental influences on structural brain development from childhood to adolescence: A longitudinal twin study on cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volume.

Abstract in brief

• This study examined how genetic and environmental factors influence the development of different brain regions (like motor, social, and emotional areas) from childhood to adolescence, using MRI scans of twins to see how much each factor contributes to brain structure.
• Results showed that genetic influences vary across brain regions, with surface area generally being more influenced by genetics than cortical thickness, and that brain changes over time are mainly driven by genetics, but environment also plays a role in specific areas such as the somatosensory cortex and cerebellum.
• These findings suggest that understanding both genetics and environment is important for developing strategies to support healthy brain development in children and adolescents, which could impact educational and mental health interventions.]