Conclusion

As highlighted in this review, initial methodological and conceptual advances in functional neuroimaging launched the epoch of imaging genetics. Since then, development of genetic vulnerability maps of the brain, identifying neuroimaging intermediate phenotypes of schizophrenia and the risk variants associated with them, have become a major research industry. While imaging genetics to date has led to an increased understanding of schizophrenia pathophysiology and potential sites of pharmacologic intervention, a new wave of imaging genetics is fueled by even further methodological and conceptual advances. Effective connectivity-modeling promises to offer causal and directional insight into brain networks and circuitry, and polygenic risk modeling promises to incorporate genetic models reflective of the polygenic complexity of the schizophrenia syndrome.

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