title: Can we observe epigenetic effects on human brain function?
abstract: Imaging genetics has identified many contributions of DNA sequence variation to individual differences in brain function, behavior, and risk for psychopathology. Recent studies have extended this work beyond the genome by mapping epigenetic differences, specifically gene methylation in peripherally assessed DNA, onto variability in behaviorally and clinically relevant brain function. These data have generated understandable enthusiasm for the potential of such research to illuminate biological mechanisms of risk. We use our research on the effects of genetic and epigenetic variation in the human serotonin transporter on brain function to generate a guardedly optimistic opinion that the available data encourage continued research in this direction, and suggest strategies to promote faster progress.
authors.affiliation: Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: yuliya.nikolova@camh.ca.
authors.forename: Yuliya S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Nikolova
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of NeuroGenetics, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmad R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hariri
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D057890:Epigenomics; D006801:Humans; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins