15q11.2 CNV affects cognitive, structural and functional correlates of dyslexia and dyscalculia

Transl Psychiatry. 2017 Apr 25;7(4):e1109. doi: 10.1038/tp.2017.77.

Abstract

Several copy number variants have been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and these variants have been shown to also influence cognitive abilities in carriers unaffected by psychiatric disorders. Previously, we associated the 15q11.2(BP1-BP2) deletion with specific learning disabilities and a larger corpus callosum. Here we investigate, in a much larger sample, the effect of the 15q11.2(BP1-BP2) deletion on cognitive, structural and functional correlates of dyslexia and dyscalculia. We report that the deletion confers greatest risk of the combined phenotype of dyslexia and dyscalculia. We also show that the deletion associates with a smaller left fusiform gyrus. Moreover, tailored functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments using phonological lexical decision and multiplication verification tasks demonstrate altered activation in the left fusiform and the left angular gyri in carriers. Thus, by using convergent evidence from neuropsychological testing, and structural and functional neuroimaging, we show that the 15q11.2(BP1-BP2) deletion affects cognitive, structural and functional correlates of both dyslexia and dyscalculia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Chromosome Deletion
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 / genetics
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • DNA Copy Number Variations / genetics*
  • Developmental Disabilities / genetics
  • Dyscalculia / genetics*
  • Dyslexia / genetics*
  • Female
  • Functional Neuroimaging / methods
  • Functional Neuroimaging / standards
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Iceland / epidemiology
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests / standards
  • Phenotype
  • Temporal Lobe / anatomy & histology
  • Temporal Lobe / diagnostic imaging
  • Young Adult

Supplementary concepts

  • Duplication 15q11-q13 Syndrome