GWAS of EEG oscillations unveils genetic pleiotropy between brain structure, function, and behavior

COEX 

Oscillations in neuronal brain activity play a crucial role in information processing and have been studied extensively as biological markers of human behavior and psychopathology [1]. A century ago, in 1924, Hans Berger's discovery marked the inception of a transformative era in neuroscience, leading to crucial advancements in our understanding of brain function and the corresponding behavioral phenomena [2]. Twin studies have demonstrated that individual differences in EEG oscillations are strongly driven by genetic factors [3]. However, our understanding of their molecular genetic architecture is still very limited. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of resting-state EEG oscillations to discover associated genomic loci and to examine the pleiotropic relationships with other complex traits, i.e., the links with brain structure and mental illness.