Genes, Brain and Behavior (2014) 13: 1
Editorial
doi: 10.1111/gbb.12111
Introducing G2Breviews I am proud to introduce the first Issue of Genes, Brain and Behavior devoted solely to Review articles. This inaugural Issue of ‘G2Breviews ’ brings together contributions from nine of the leading laboratories in our field from around the world. Higher-order behavioral processes rely on the integration of functional neural networks and circuits. Technological developments are driving the field forward by providing new tools for the measurement, analysis and control of these circuits with increasing power and precision. Three reviews presented here by Soden, Gore & Zeifel, Gaiteri et al and Lammel, Tye & Warden provide an update on the state-of-the-art of mutant, viral, expression, and optogenetic based approaches to study gene networks and brain circuits in behavior and psychiatric disease. Rashid, Cole & Josselyn offer an exemplar of how these tools can be effectively leveraged to elucidate the role of a transcription factor, MEF2, in learning and memory. A specific candidate gene, in this case FKBP5 , is also the focus of Zannas and Binder’s review, in which the authors illustrate how interactions between genes and environmental stress moderate susceptibility to mood and anxiety disorders. The influence of another environment, the gut microbiome, is the subject of the contribution by Roman, Dinan & Cryan. These authors highlight a previously underappreciated contribution of the gut-brain axis to behavior, and propose how this may be mediated in part by epigenetic mechanisms. The role of epigenetic factors in mental illness is further discussed by Malan-Muller, Seedat & Hemmings, who provide an expert summary of a literature linking abnormal gene methylation to risk for stressrelated conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder. A pair of reviews round off the issue by reminding us of the critical importance of selecting and defining the ‘right phenotype’. Kostrzewa & Kas discuss gene association and gene linkage studies of physical activity and issues with their translatability across mouse and human subjects, while Martin et al lay out of a case for grounding human genome-wide association studies of schizophrenia on the stable, well-defined cognitive endophenotype of theory of mind. Together, these nine reviews reflect the spectrum of approaches now used to the study of genetics and neuroscience of behavior and disorders of the brain, and showcase the depth and diversity of the research published in Genes, Brain and Behavior . John Wiley & Sons have generously made the entire Issue free for all readers to access, so on behalf of myself and the entire editorial team, I hope you enjoy this inaugural issue of G2Breviews and stay tuned for the next issue early in 2015.
Andrew Holmes Editor in Chief, Genes, Brain and Behavior
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society
1
Editorial
doi: 10.1111/gbb.12111
Introducing G2Breviews I am proud to introduce the first Issue of Genes, Brain and Behavior devoted solely to Review articles. This inaugural Issue of ‘G2Breviews ’ brings together contributions from nine of the leading laboratories in our field from around the world. Higher-order behavioral processes rely on the integration of functional neural networks and circuits. Technological developments are driving the field forward by providing new tools for the measurement, analysis and control of these circuits with increasing power and precision. Three reviews presented here by Soden, Gore & Zeifel, Gaiteri et al and Lammel, Tye & Warden provide an update on the state-of-the-art of mutant, viral, expression, and optogenetic based approaches to study gene networks and brain circuits in behavior and psychiatric disease. Rashid, Cole & Josselyn offer an exemplar of how these tools can be effectively leveraged to elucidate the role of a transcription factor, MEF2, in learning and memory. A specific candidate gene, in this case FKBP5 , is also the focus of Zannas and Binder’s review, in which the authors illustrate how interactions between genes and environmental stress moderate susceptibility to mood and anxiety disorders. The influence of another environment, the gut microbiome, is the subject of the contribution by Roman, Dinan & Cryan. These authors highlight a previously underappreciated contribution of the gut-brain axis to behavior, and propose how this may be mediated in part by epigenetic mechanisms. The role of epigenetic factors in mental illness is further discussed by Malan-Muller, Seedat & Hemmings, who provide an expert summary of a literature linking abnormal gene methylation to risk for stressrelated conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder. A pair of reviews round off the issue by reminding us of the critical importance of selecting and defining the ‘right phenotype’. Kostrzewa & Kas discuss gene association and gene linkage studies of physical activity and issues with their translatability across mouse and human subjects, while Martin et al lay out of a case for grounding human genome-wide association studies of schizophrenia on the stable, well-defined cognitive endophenotype of theory of mind. Together, these nine reviews reflect the spectrum of approaches now used to the study of genetics and neuroscience of behavior and disorders of the brain, and showcase the depth and diversity of the research published in Genes, Brain and Behavior . John Wiley & Sons have generously made the entire Issue free for all readers to access, so on behalf of myself and the entire editorial team, I hope you enjoy this inaugural issue of G2Breviews and stay tuned for the next issue early in 2015.
Andrew Holmes Editor in Chief, Genes, Brain and Behavior
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society
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