Neuroimaging Genetics Edited by Bigos et al. Oxford University Press

Abstract

Over the last two decades, the association of genetic variation and brain function has received considerable attention. It is well established that most psychiatric and neurological diseases have a substantial genetic contribution. Therefore, investigating the influences of genotypes on brain structure and function should lead to a better understanding of the neurobiology of physiological brain functions and neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuroimaging Genetics - Principles and Practices is a comprehensive volume which exhaustively covers this field of imaging genetics. The table of contributors is a who-is-who of top-ranking researchers in the field, and the scientific quality of the single chapters is extraordinary. The book offers an impressive range of thematic fields, spanning from basic neuroscience to clinical implications. Most of the topics are covered with stunning detail, including basically all relevant studies on the respective issue. This makes the volume an important reference book for experienced researchers of the neuroimaging genetics community. Beginners, however, may miss a broader introduction to basic concepts concerning the molecular biology as well as the imaging techniques. Methodological overviews in future editions may render the book more accessible to less specialized readers. In a similar vein, more figures may help to illustrate the content of the text better and help to get a faster insight into the topics.