Mapping cortical brain asymmetry in 17,141 healthy individuals worldwide via the ENIGMA Consortium
Authors: Kong Xiang-Zhen , Mathias Samuel R. , Guadalupe Tulio ,   ENIGMA Laterality Working Group, Glahn David C. , Franke Barbara , Crivello Fabrice , Tzourio-Mazoyer Nathalie , Fisher Simon E. , Thompson Paul M. , Francks Clyde ,   ENIGMA Laterality Working Group, Kong Xiang-Zhen , Mathias Samuel R. , Guadalupe Tulio , Abé Christoph , Agartz Ingrid , Akudjedu Theophilus N. , Aleman Andre , Alhusaini Saud , Allen Nicholas B. , Ames David , Andreassen Ole A. , Vasquez Alejandro Arias , Armstrong Nicola J. , Bergo Felipe , Bastin Mark E. , Batalla Albert , Bauer Jochen , Baune Bernhard T , Baur-Streubel Ramona , Biederman Joseph , Blaine Sara K. , Boedhoe Premika , Bøen Erlend , Bose Anushree , Bralten Janita , Brandeis Daniel , Brem Silvia , Brodaty Henry , Yüksel Dilara , Brooks Samantha J. , Buitelaar Jan , Bürger Christian , Bülow Robin , Calhoun Vince , Calvo Anna , Canales-Rodríguez Erick Jorge , Canive Jose M. , Cannon Dara M. , Caparelli Elisabeth C. , Castellanos Francisco X. , Cavalleri Gianpiero L. , Cendes Fernando , Chaim-Avancini Tiffany Moukbel , Chantiluke Kaylita , Chen Qun-lin , Chen Xiayu , Cheng Yuqi , Christakou Anastasia , Clark Vincent P. , Coghill David , Connolly Colm G. , Conzelmann Annette , Córdova-Palomera Aldo , Cousijn Janna , Crow Tim , Cubillo Ana , Dale Anders , Dannlowski Udo , Ambrosino de Bruttopilo Sara , de Zeeuw Patrick , Deary Ian J. , Delanty Norman , Demeter Damion V. , Di Martino Adriana , Dickie Erin W , Dietsche Bruno , Doan N. Trung , Doherty Colin P. , Doyle Alysa , Durston Sarah , Earl Eric , Ehrlich Stefan , Ekman Carl Johan , Elvsåshagen Torbjørn , Epstein Jeffery N. , Fair Damien A. , Faraone Stephen V. , Fernández Guillén , Filho Geraldo Busatto , Förster Katharina , Fouche Jean-Paul , Foxe John J. , Frodl Thomas , Fuentes-Claramonte Paola , Fullerton Janice , Garavan Hugh , Garcia Danielle do Santos , Gotlib Ian H. , Goudriaan Anna E. , Grabe Hans Jörgen , Groenewold Nynke A. , Grotegerd Dominik , Gruber Oliver , Gurholt Tiril , Haavik Jan , Hahn Tim , Hansell Narelle K. , Harris Mathew A. , Hartman Catharina A. , Hernández Maria del Carmen Valdés , Heslenfeld Dirk , Hester Robert , Hibar Derrek Paul , Ho Beng-Choon , Ho Tiffany C. , Hoekstra Pieter J. , van Holst Ruth J. , Hoogman Martine , Høvik Marie F. , Howells Fleur M. , Hugdahl Kenneth , Huyser Chaim , Ingvar Martin , Irwin Lourdes , Ishikawa Akari , James Anthony , Jahanshad Neda , Jernigan Terry L. , Jönsson Erik G , Kähler Claas , Kaleda Vasily , Kelly Clare , Kerich Michael , Keshavan Matcheri S. , Khadka Sabin , Kircher Tilo , Kohls Gregor , Konrad Kerstin , Korucuoglu Ozlem , Krämer Bernd , Krug Axel , Kwon Jun Soo , Lambregts-Rommelse Nanda , Landén Mikael , Lázaro Luisa , Lebedeva Irina , Lenroot Rhoshel , Lesch Klaus-Peter , Li Qinqin , Lim Kelvin O. , Liu Jia , Lochner Christine , London Edythe D. , Lonning Vera , Lorenzetti Valentina , Luciano Michelle , Luijten Maartje , Lundervold Astri J. , Mackey Scott , MacMaster Frank P. , Maingault Sophie , Malpas Charles B. , Malt Ulrik F. , Mataix-Cols David , Martin-Santos Rocio , Mayer Andrew R. , McCarthy Hazel , Mitchell Philip B. , Mueller Bryon A. , Maniega Susana Muñoz , Mazoyer Bernard , McDonald Colm , McLellan Quinn , McMahon Katie L. , McPhilemy Genevieve , Momenan Reza , Morales Angelica M. , Narayanaswamy Janardhanan C. , Moreira José Carlos Vasques , Nerland Stener , Nestor Liam , Newman Erik , Nigg Joel T. , Nordvik Jan Egil , Novotny Stephanie , Weiss Eileen Oberwelland , O’Gorman Ruth L. , Oosterlaan Jaap , Oranje Bob , Orr Catherine , Overs Bronwyn , Pauli Paul , Paulus Martin , Plessen Kerstin Jessica , von Polier Georg G. , Pomarol-Clotet Edith , Portella Maria J. , Qiu Jiang , Radua Joaquim , Ramos-Quiroga Josep Antoni , Reddy Y.C. Janardhan , Reif Andreas , Roberts Gloria , Rosa Pedro , Rubia Katya , Sacchet Matthew D. , Sachdev Perminder S. , Salvador Raymond , Schmaal Lianne , Schulte-Rüther Martin , Schweren Lizanne , Seidman Larry , Seitz Jochen , Serpa Mauricio Henriques , Shaw Philip , Shumskaya Elena , Silk Timothy J. , Simmons Alan N. , Simulionyte Egle , Sinha Rajita , Sjoerds Zsuzsika , Smelror Runar Elle , Soliva Joan Carlos , Solowij Nadia , Souza-Duran Fabio Luisde , Sponheim Scott R. , Stein Dan J. , Stein Elliot A. , Stevens Michael , Strike Lachlan T. , Sudre Gustavo , Sui Jing , Tamm Leanne , Temmingh Hendrik S. , Thoma Robert J. , Tomyshev Alexander , Tronchin Giulia , Turner Jessica , Uhlmann Anne , van Erp Theo G.M. , van den Heuvel Odile A. , van der Meer Dennis , van Eijk Liza , Vance Alasdair , Veer Ilya M. , Veltman Dick J. , Venkatasubramanian Ganesan , Vilarroya Oscar , Vives-Gilabert Yolanda , Voineskos Aristotle N , Völzke Henry , Vuletic Daniella , Walitza Susanne , Walter Henrik , Walton Esther , Wardlaw Joanna M. , Wen Wei , Westlye Lars T. , Whelan Christopher D. , White Tonya , Wiers Reinout W. , Wright Margaret J. , Wittfeld Katharina , Yang Tony T. , Yasuda Clarissa L. , Yoncheva Yuliya , Yücel Murat , Yun Je-Yeon , Zanetti Marcus Vinicius , Zhen Zonglei , Zhu Xing-xing , Ziegler Georg C. , Zierhut Kathrin , de Zubicaray Greig I. , Zwiers Marcel ,   Karolinska Schizophrenia Project (KaSP), Glahn David C. , Franke Barbara , Crivello Fabrice , Tzourio-Mazoyer Nathalie , Fisher Simon E. , Thompson Paul M. , Francks Clyde ,   Karolinska Schizophrenia Project (KaSP) consortium, Farde Lars , Flyckt Lena , Engberg Göran , Erhardt Sophie , Fatouros-Bergman Helena , Cervenka Simon , Schwieler Lilly , Piehl Fredrik , Agartz Ingrid , Collste Karin , Victorsson Pauliina , Malmqvist Anna , Hedberg Mikael , Orhan Funda 
Published: May 2018

Significance

Left–right asymmetry is a key feature of the human brain's structure and function. It remains unclear which cortical regions are asymmetrical on average in the population and how biological factors such as age, sex, and genetic variation affect these asymmetries. Here, we describe by far the largest-ever study of cerebral cortical asymmetry, based on data from 17,141 participants. We found a global anterior–posterior “torque” pattern in cortical thickness, together with various regional asymmetries at the population level, which have not been previously described, as well as effects of age, sex, and heritability estimates. From these data, we have created an online resource that will serve future studies of human brain anatomy in health and disease.