Linkage disequilibrium between the beta frequency of the human EEG and a GABAA receptor gene locus

Abstract

Human brain oscillations represent important features of information processing and are highly heritable. A common feature of beta oscillations (13-28 Hz) is the critical involvement of networks of inhibitory interneurons as pacemakers, gated by gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) action. Advances in molecular and statistical genetics permit examination of quantitative traits such as the beta frequency of the human electroencephalogram in conjunction with DNA markers. We report a significant linkage and linkage disequilibrium between beta frequency and a set of GABA(A) receptor genes. Uncovering the genes influencing brain oscillations provides a better understanding of the neural function involved in information processing.

Figure 1

Diagram of aerial view of the scalp with the nose up (front) designating the positions of the electrodes in the 10–20 international System. F, frontal; C, central; P, parietal; O, occipital; T, temporal. Odd numbers indicate leads on the left side of the head, even numbers indicate leads on the right side, and Z indicates zero or midline.

Figure 2

Linkage of beta frequencies: beta 1 (12.5–16 Hz), beta 2 (16.5–20 Hz), and beta 3 (20.5–28 Hz) on chromosome 4. For all three beta bands, the maximum lod scores were at GABRB1, a microsatellite marker situated within a cluster of GABA_A receptor genes (beta 2, lod = 5.01; beta 1, lod = 3.39; beta 3, lod = 2.17).