Cognitive genomics

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Reads like a class assignment, contains much irrelevant stuff (e.g. section on imaging techniques). Please help improve this article if you can. (April 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Cognitive genomics (or neurative genomics) is the sub-field of genomics pertaining to cognitive function in which the genes and non-coding sequences of an organism's genome related to the health and activity of the brain are studied. By applying comparative genomics, the genomes of multiple species are compared in order to identify genetic and phenotypical differences between species. Observed phenotypical characteristics related to the neurological function include behavior, personality, neuroanatomy, and neuropathology. The theory behind cognitive genomics is based on elements of genetics, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, cognitive psychology, behavioral psychology, and neurophysiology.

Intelligence is the most extensively studied behavioral trait.^[1] In humans, approximately 70% of all genes are expressed in the brain.^[2] Genetic variation accounts for 40% of phenotypical variation.^[3] Approaches in cognitive genomics have been used to investigate the genetic causes for many mental and neurodegenerative disorders including Down syndrome, major depressive disorder, autism, and Alzheimer's disease.