ENIGMA-EEG is a consortium to elucidate the genetics of electrophysiological brain activity, also called EEG. Combining large datasets world-wide, we aim to perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for electrophysiological markers. These EEG markers reflect neurodevelopment, neuropsychiatric disorders like epilepsy and depression, and brain health; however, we do not yet know how genetic variants in our DNA affect the whole brain while it is communicating via electrical and electrochemical pathways.
Our approach is a collaborative one. Cohorts with both genetic and EEG data perform the analyses via standardized protocols, after which a central group performs the meta-analysis and quality control, harmonizing the data using advanced statistical techniques. Recently funded by NWO, we are now taking great strides in cataloguing the genetics that influence brain activity and neurodevelopment. In the true spirit of open science, we publish our protocols and GWAS results online, which serves large groups of researchers for their follow-up analyses.
