Scientists from
Imperial College London have identified for the first time two clusters of
genes linked to human intelligence. Called M1 and M3, these so-called gene
networks appear to influence cognitive function - which includes memory,
attention, processing speed and reasoning. The scientists have discovered that
these two networks - which each contain hundreds of genes - are likely to be
under the control of master regulator switches. The researchers are now keen to
identify these switches and explore whether it might be feasible to manipulate
them. The research is at a very early stage, but the scientists would
ultimately like to investigate whether it is possible to use this knowledge of
gene networks to boost cognitive function.
In the study, the
international team of researchers looked at samples of human brain from
patients who had undergone neurosurgery for epilepsy. The investigators
analysed thousands of genes expressed in the human brain, and then combined
these results with genetic information from healthy people who had undergone IQ
tests and from people with neurological disorders such as autism spectrum
disorder and intellectual disability. They conducted various computational
analyses and comparisons in order to identify the gene networks influencing
healthy human cognitive abilities. Remarkably, they found that some of the same
genes that influence human intelligence in healthy people were also the same
genes that cause impaired cognitive ability and epilepsy when mutated.
More information: