A multivariate genome-wide association study identified 114 independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked to brain connectivity, according to research published in Nature Communications. The analysis pointed to 315 candidate genes, expanding the catalogue of common alleles associated with functional brain networks.
Previous association studies struggled to capture the full complexity of functional brain phenotypes. To address that limitation and increase statistical power, the research team applied a multivariate framework to evaluate connectivity within and across brain networks. The results showed extensive genetic overlap across functional systems, alongside network-specific signals that suggest a genetic stratification between cognitive and sensory-motor networks.
The study also documented a substantial genetic overlap between functional brain connectivity and the risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders. Genomic regions that regulate neuronal communication are enriched for neuropsychiatric risk variants, providing new targets for functional genomics investigations.
Cardiff University researchers at the Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre led the project. The team relied on data access provided by the UK Biobank, which receives backing from the Wellcome Trust, the UK Medical Research Council, the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, the Scottish Government, and the Department of Health. The peer-reviewed paper was accepted on August 25, 2026, following its initial submission in September 2025.
