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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2024.11.27.624077

The Lifespan Evolution of Individualized Neurophysiological Traits

da Silva Castanheira, J.·Weisman, A.·Taylor, M.·Baillet, S.
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Abstract

How do neurophysiological traits that characterize individuals evolve across the lifespan? To address this question, we analyzed brief, task-free magnetoencephalographic recordings from over 1,000 individuals aged 4-89. We found that neurophysiological activity is significantly more similar between individuals in childhood than in adulthood, though periodic patterns of brain activity remain reliable markers of individuality across all ages. The cortical regions most critical for determining individuality shift across neurodevelopment and aging, with sensorimotor cortices becoming increasingly prominent in adulthood. These developmental changes in neurophysiology align closely with the expression of cortical genetic systems related to ion transport and neurotransmission, suggesting a growing influence of genetic factors on neurophysiological traits across the lifespan. Notably, this alignment peaks in late adolescence, a critical period when genetic factors significantly shape brain individuality. Overall, our findings highlight the role of sensorimotor regions in defining individual brain traits and reveal how genetic influences on these traits intensify with age. This study advances our understanding of the evolving biological foundations of inter-individual differences. Lay summaryThis study examines how brain activity reflects the development of individuality across a persons life. Using magnetoencephalography to capture brief recordings of spontaneous brain activity, the researchers distinguished between over 1,000 individuals, spanning ages 4 to 89. They found that the brain regions most associated with individuality change with age: sensory and motor regions become increasingly distinctive in early adulthood, highlighting their role in shaping a persons unique characteristics of brain activity. The study also revealed that changes in brain activity across different ages correspond to specific patterns of gene expression, shedding light on how genetics influence brain individuality. These findings deepen our understanding of the biological foundations of inter-individual differences and how it evolves over the lifespan.

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da Silva Castanheira, J., Weisman, A., Taylor, M., Baillet, S.. 2024-11-27. The Lifespan Evolution of Individualized Neurophysiological Traits. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.27.624077

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