Research Description:

My research investigates the interplay between genetic variation and human behavior, exploring how DNA contributes to our unique personalities and traits. Building on decades of behavioral research in psychology and neuroscience, we can now begin to uncover the genetic mechanisms underlying individual differences. To accomplish this, I develop innovative computational approaches that leverage large-scale biobank datasets to identify genetic patterns associated with complex behavioral profiles. My graduate work focuses on elucidating the genetic architecture of language abilities and human migratory behavior, along with their relationships to psychiatric risk factors. Through advanced analytics and deep phenotyping, I aim to bridge the gap between observable behaviors and their genetic foundations. This research not only advances our fundamental understanding of human diversity but also holds promise for informing personalized interventions and fostering greater appreciation for individual differences in how we think and act.

Publications:

L. G. Casten, T Koomar, T. R. Thomas, et al., “Rapidly evolved genomic regions shape individual language abilities in present-day humans”, medRxiv, 2024. 

L. G. Casten, T. Koomar, M. Elsadany, et al., “Lingo: an automated, web-based deep phenotyping platform for language ability”, medRxiv, 2024. T. Koomar*, L. G. Casten*, T. R. Thomas, et al., “Whole genome sequencing illuminates the developmental signatures of human language ability”, medRxiv, 2024. PMCID: PMC10996758

L. G. Casten, T. R. Thomas, A. F. Doobay, et al., “The combination of autism and exceptional cognitive ability is associated with suicidal ideation”, Neurobiology of learning and memory, vol. 197, p. 107 698, 2023. Co-author publications: B. MR. Argue, L. G. Casten, S. McCool, et al., “Patterns of Immune Dysregulation in Bipolar Disorder”, medRxiv, 2024. PMCID: PMC10088461

E. HC. Kovacs, L. G. Casten, N. Mullins, et al., “SNP-associated differential methylation in ARHGEF38: insights into genetic-epigenetic interactions”, Epigenomics, 2025.

B. MR. Argue, L. G. Casten, S. McCool, et al., “Immune dysregulation in bipolar disorder”, Journal of Affective Disorders, 2025.

A. Alrfooh, L. G. Casten, J. G. Richards, et al., “Investigating the relationship between DNA methylation, genetic variation, and suicide attempt in bipolar disorder”, medRxiv, 2024. PMID: 38633806

G. I. Harmata, E. J. Barsotti, L. G. Casten, et al., “Cerebellar Morphological Differences and Associations with Extrinsic Factors in Bipolar Disorder Type I,” Journal of Affective Disorders, 2023. PMCID: PMC10529949

T. R. Thomas, L. G. Casten, J. J. Michaelson, “Environmental adversity moderates polygenic score effects on childhood behavioral problems in the United States”, medRxiv, pp. 2023-6, 2023. 

T. R. Thomas, T. Koomar, L. G. Casten, et al., “Clinical autism subscales have common genetic liabilities that are heritable, pleiotropic, and generalizable to the general population,” Translational psychiatry, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 247, 2022. PMCID: PMC9192633

B. G. McKenna, Y. Huang, ..., L. G. Casten, et al., “Genetic and morphological estimates of androgen exposure predict social deficits in multiple neurodevelopmental disorder cohorts,” Molecular autism, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1–18, 2021. PMCID: PMC8190870

J. J. Michaelson, A. Doobay, L. Casten, et al., “A discrepancy between processing speed and verbal ability in gifted youth is genetically and diagnostically associated with autism,” medRxiv, 2021.

Honors/Awards:

Poster Award, The Advances in Social Genomics Conference (2024)

Poster presentation, American Society of Human Genetics (2024)

Poster Presentation Award, UIowa Computational Psychiatry Symposium (2024)

Oral Presentation Award, University of Iowa Computational Psychiatry Symposium (2023)

Oral Presentation, World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics (2023)

Oral Presentation award, UIowa Genetics Retreat (2023)

T32 NIH Training Grant, University of Iowa (T32GM008629) (2021-2022)