Genetics of Electroencephalography During Wakefulness and Sleep

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a readily measurable, quantifiable, heritable endophenotype of central nervous system activity in wakefulness and sleep. The EEG is the perceptible end result of synaptic neurotransmission, the basis for neuronal functioning. The EEG is well suited for studies of the genetic basis of the neurophysiology of sleep and wake. Twin and family studies have shown substantial heritability to numerous EEG phenotypes, and animal studies provide evidence that single genes may be found for quantitative EEG variants in humans. Genomic technologies are beginning to be applied to the EEG in hopes of improving understanding of this complex phenotype. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.