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Review
. 2024 Mar 7;14(3):261.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030261.

Epigenome Defines Aberrant Brain Laterality in Major Mental Illnesses

Hamid Mostafavi Abdolmaleky  1   2 , Shabnam Nohesara  1 , Sam Thiagalingam  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Epigenome Defines Aberrant Brain Laterality in Major Mental Illnesses

Hamid Mostafavi Abdolmaleky et al. Brain Sci. .

Abstract

Brain-hemisphere asymmetry/laterality is a well-conserved biological feature of normal brain development. Several lines of evidence, confirmed by the meta-analysis of different studies, support the disruption of brain laterality in mental illnesses such as schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and autism. Furthermore, as abnormal brain lateralization in the planum temporale (a critical structure in auditory language processing) has been reported in patients with SCZ, it has been considered a major cause for the onset of auditory verbal hallucinations. Interestingly, the peripheral counterparts of abnormal brain laterality in mental illness, particularly in SCZ, have also been shown in several structures of the human body. For instance, the fingerprints of patients with SCZ exhibit aberrant asymmetry, and while their hair whorl rotation is random, 95% of the general population exhibit a clockwise rotation. In this work, we present a comprehensive literature review of brain laterality disturbances in mental illnesses such as SCZ, BD, ADHD, and OCD, followed by a systematic review of the epigenetic factors that may be involved in the disruption of brain lateralization in mental health disorders. We will conclude with a discussion on whether existing non-pharmacological therapies such as rTMS and ECT may be used to influence the altered functional asymmetry of the right and left hemispheres of the brain, along with their epigenetic and corresponding gene-expression patterns.

Keywords: ADHD; OCD; TGFB2; asymmetry; autism; bipolar disorder; brain; epigenetic; laterality; schizophrenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An illustration showcasing the dominance of brain-hemisphere capabilities in humans. Note that left or right brain dominance in specific skills implies the involvement of the contralateral hemisphere in that particular skill as well. Indeed, many of these skills may rely on bilateral brain activity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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