Linking Genes and Behaviour Using Brain Imaging: A Practical Guide to a Dark Art

Autism spectrum disorder is perhaps the most highly genetic neurodevelopmental disorder.  Also there is increasing understanding that the symptoms are biologically based; and that particular brain systems are implicated.

The genetic determinants of the biological differences, however, are unknown.  Also there is much debate as to how the genome can, and cannot, be related to the neurobiological endophenotype.

These challenges have been confronted by researchers in fields outside autism.  Hence the purpose of this program is to learn from those individuals who are experts in applying genetic approaches to behaviour and brain imaging; and to provide an overview of current work in autism.

Professor Robert Plomin will firstly discuss theoretical issues and problems, and why therefore we need to be extremely careful when ‘doing brain’.

 Professor Mick Brammer will discuss how, if you still want to carry out a genetic imaging investigation, you should design the study and analyse the data.

Professor Gunter Schuman will then give an overview on how similar problems have been addressed, and solved, by researchers in Addictions.

Professor Joe Piven discuss how early ‘genetic’ imaging studies in autism are progressing; problems and solutions.