Imaging Genomics Across Primate Species: Advancing Understanding of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Neurosci Bull. 2026 Apr 28. doi: 10.1007/s12264-026-01627-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This review delves into brain imaging genomics, an interdisciplinary field merging brain imaging, genomics, and additional biomarkers with clinical data. The primary aim is to uncover new insights into the brain’s phenotypic, genetic, and molecular characteristics. We emphasize recent advances in genome-wide association studies and transcriptome-wide association studies, especially their integration with MRI-derived phenotypes in humans. These studies are crucial for understanding how various factors influence brain structure and function in normal and pathological states. Furthermore, this review highlights imaging transcriptomics progress in non-human primates, essential for elucidating brain organization and improving animal models evolutionarily to bridge gaps in understanding human disorders. We conclude that brain imaging genomics is set to transform research in neurological and psychiatric disorders, owing to its holistic approach that merges advanced genetic analysis with detailed imaging, will deepen our understanding of the brain, and usher in a new epoch in brain imaging research.

PMID:42047980 | DOI:10.1007/s12264-026-01627-0