In support of our first hypothesis we show that variation in Val158Met genotype modulates the tempo of cortical maturation in health brain development. These relationships are particularly prominent in fronto-temporal cortical regions that are relevant to the neurobiology of schizophrenia [e.g. dlPFC, medPFC, cingulate and STS (Ellison-Wright and Bullmore, 2010)], and sub-serve cognitive tasks which tap DA-sensitive aspects of prefrontal information processing such as working memory (Mattay et al., 2003). Other structural neuroimaging studies in HCs have also found anatomical differences in similar fronto-temporal regions as a function of Val158Met genotype (Cerasa et al., 2010; Honea et al., 2009; Zinkstok et al., 2006). These cross-sectional studies all examine older samples than ours, and almost all (Cerasa et al., 2010) focus on cortical volume rather than CT. While methodological differences between prior studies and our current report preclude more detailed comparison of findings, there is clear convergence of results across studies in support of the notion that Val158Met genotype plays a particularly important role in the structural development of lateral prefrontal, cingulate and superior temporal cortices. These findings in HCs also
