Behavioral, Anatomical and Genetic Convergence of Affect and Cognition in Superior Frontal Cortex

Affective experience and cognition are key human traits that are proposed to be inherently coupled in the human brain. Here we studied shared genetic basis of cognitive and affective traits in behavior and brain structure in the twin-based Human Connectome Project sample (n=1087). Both affective and cognitive trait scores were highly heritable and showed significant phenotypic correlation on the behavioral level. We further evaluated the correlation of affect and cognition, respectively, with local brain structure (cortical thickness, subcortical volumes, and surface area). Cortical thickness in the left superior frontal cortex showed a phenotypic association with both affect and cognition, which was driven by shared genetic effects. Quantitative functional decoding of this region yielded associations with cognitive and emotional functioning. This study provides a multi-level approach to study the association between affect and cognition and suggests a convergence of both in superior frontal anatomy.