New Publications from Bridgeside Highlight Advances in Genetic and Cognitive Research
Bridgeside Labs is proud to announce the release of two publications that highlight the research conducted within our community.
Image: Ilona Panych/Unsplash
Unveiling the Genetic Architecture of Facial Shape
The first study, titled "Mapping genes for human face shape: exploration of univariate phenotyping strategies,” delves into the genetic and structural intricacies of human facial shape. Bridgeside residents John Shaffer, Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh) and Seth Weinberg, Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh) worked together with other researchers in a collaboration between The University of Pittsburgh, KU Leuven, University of Calgary, MCRI, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Penn State, Cedars Sinai, UCSF, and Indiana University to produce the study.
Given the high heritability of facial features, precise phenotyping is crucial for accurate genetic assessments. This research compares various phenotyping strategies, such as inter-landmark distances, principal component analysis (PCA), auto-encoder (AE) dimensions, and facial resemblance to specific gestalts (e.g., syndromic facial archetypes).
The study analyzed a cohort of 8,426 individuals of recent European ancestry and found that inter-landmark distances exhibit the highest SNP-based heritability, followed by AE dimensions. Interestingly, resemblance scores to extreme and syndromic facial gestalts displayed the lowest heritability. However, the aggregation of multiple genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on facial resemblance to random gestalts revealed the highest number of independent genetic loci. This novel phenotyping approach shows significant promise for capturing genetically relevant morphological traits and extends its applications beyond facial analysis.
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Image: Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash
Rational Adaptation in Language Processing: Insights from Aphasia
The second publication, "Rational Adaptation in word production: Strong conceptual ability reduces the effect of lexical impairments on verb retrieval in aphasia," explores how individuals with aphasia adapt their language processing strategies to optimize communicative behavior. Aphasia, an acquired language disorder, often results in pervasive verb-retrieval impairments, negatively impacting communication. This study was a collaboration between The University of Pittsburgh, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs and included Bridgeside residents Tessa Warren, Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh), William D. Hula, Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh), and Michael Walsh Dickey, Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh).
This study investigates the principle of rational adaptation, which posits that cognitive systems can shift reliance between linguistic and conceptual processing under different conditions to optimize behavior. The research examined verb production in individuals with aphasia, using standardized assessments to contrast non-linguistic (picture input) and linguistic (word input) tasks of conceptual action knowledge.
The findings indicate that non-linguistic conceptual action processing can be impaired in people with aphasia and contributes to verb-retrieval difficulties. Conversely, unimpaired conceptual action processing can mitigate the impact of linguistic processing deficits on verb retrieval. These results align with rational adaptation theories, highlighting the critical role of conceptual processing in language function and its potential leverage in rehabilitation for improving verb retrieval in adults with chronic aphasia.
Read more here