@article {445, title = {Large-scale collaboration in ENIGMA-EEG: A perspective on the meta-analytic approach to link neurological and psychiatric liability genes to electrophysiological brain activity}, journal = {Brain and Behavior}, volume = {11}, year = {2021}, pages = {e02188}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The ENIGMA-EEG working group was established to enable large-scale international collaborations among cohorts that investigate the genetics of brain function measured with electroencephalography (EEG). In this perspective, we will discuss why analyzing the genetics of functional brain activity may be crucial for understanding how neurological and psychiatric liability genes affect the brain.

METHODS: We summarize how we have performed our currently largest genome-wide association study of oscillatory brain activity in EEG recordings by meta-analyzing the results across five participating cohorts, resulting in the first genome-wide significant hits for oscillatory brain function located in/near genes that were previously associated with psychiatric disorders. We describe how we have tackled methodological issues surrounding genetic meta-analysis of EEG features. We discuss the importance of harmonizing EEG signal processing, cleaning, and feature extraction. Finally, we explain our selection of EEG features currently being investigated, including the temporal dynamics of oscillations and the connectivity network based on synchronization of oscillations.

RESULTS: We present data that show how to perform systematic quality control and evaluate how choices in reference electrode and montage affect individual differences in EEG parameters.

CONCLUSION: The long list of potential challenges to our large-scale meta-analytic approach requires extensive effort and organization between participating cohorts; however, our perspective shows that these challenges are surmountable. Our perspective argues that elucidating the genetic of EEG oscillatory activity is a worthwhile effort in order to elucidate the pathway from gene to disease liability.

}, keywords = {brain disorders, electroencephalography, ENIGMA, harmonization, imaging genetics, open science}, doi = {10.1002/brb3.2188}, author = {Smit, Dirk J A and Andreassen, Ole A and Boomsma, Dorret I and Burwell, Scott J and Chorlian, David B and de Geus, Eco J C and Elvs\aashagen, Torbj{\o}rn and Gordon, Reyna L and Harper, Jeremy and Hegerl, Ulrich and Hensch, Tilman and Iacono, William G and Jawinski, Philippe and J{\"o}nsson, Erik G and Luykx, Jurjen J and Magne, Cyrille L and Malone, Stephen M and Medland, Sarah E and Meyers, Jacquelyn L and Moberget, Torgeir and Porjesz, Bernice and Sander, Christian and Sisodiya, Sanjay M and Thompson, Paul M and van Beijsterveldt, Catharina E M and van Dellen, Edwin and Via, Marc and Wright, Margaret J} }