While an increasing number of behavioral findings have provided gene-culture coevolution accounts of human development, whether and how the brain mediates gene-culture associations remain unresolved. Based on the Culture-Behavior-Brain-Loop Model and the recent finding of associations between the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR, rs53576) and a cultural trait (i.e., interdependence) across populations, we tested the hypothesis that resting-state brain network properties mediate the relationship between OXTR rs53576 and interdependence. G and A allele carriers of OXTR rs53576 were scanned during a resting state using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and completed questionnaires to estimate their interdependence cultural values. We identified significant genotype effects on the local network metrics of the right hippocampus and its functional connectivity with the medial prefrontal cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, basal ganglia and thalamus. The local network metrics of the right hippocampus and its functional connectivity with the basal ganglia and thalamus were correlated with interdependence. Moreover, both the degree of the right hippocampus and its functional connectivity with the basal ganglia and thalamus mediated the relationship between OXTR and interdependence. Our results provide brain imaging evidence for a key function of the brain in mediating the relationship between genes and culture.

虽然越来越多的行为研究结果提供了人类发展的基因-文化协同进化解释，但大脑是否以及如何介导基因-文化关联仍未得到解决。基于文化-行为-脑-循环模型和最近发现的催产素受体基因（OXTR，rs53576）与不同人群的文化特征（即相互依赖）之间的关联，我们测试了静息状态大脑网络特性的假设调节 OXTR rs53576 和相互依赖之间的关系。OXTR rs53576 的 G 和 A 等位基因携带者在静息状态下使用功能磁共振成像 (fMRI) 进行扫描，并完成问卷以估计其相互依赖的文化价值。我们确定了对右侧海马的局部网络指标及其与内侧前额叶皮层、背侧前扣带回皮层、杏仁核、基底神经节和丘脑的功能连接的显着基因型影响。右侧海马体的局部网络指标及其与基底神经节和丘脑的功能连接与相互依赖相关。此外，右侧海马的程度及其与基底神经节和丘脑的功能连接都介导了 OXTR 与相互依赖之间的关系。我们的研究结果为大脑在调节基因和文化之间的关系方面的关键功能提供了大脑成像证据。右侧海马体的局部网络指标及其与基底神经节和丘脑的功能连接与相互依赖相关。此外，右侧海马的程度及其与基底神经节和丘脑的功能连接都介导了 OXTR 与相互依赖之间的关系。我们的研究结果为大脑在调节基因和文化之间的关系方面的关键功能提供了大脑成像证据。右侧海马体的局部网络指标及其与基底神经节和丘脑的功能连接与相互依赖相关。此外，右侧海马的程度及其与基底神经节和丘脑的功能连接都介导了 OXTR 与相互依赖之间的关系。我们的研究结果为大脑在调节基因和文化之间的关系方面的关键功能提供了大脑成像证据。