Linkage disequilibrium between the beta frequency of the human EEG and a GABA(A) receptor gene locus

Human brain oscillations represent important features of information processing and are highly heritable. A common feature of beta oscillations (13–28 Hz) is the critical involvement of networks of inhibitory interneurons as pacemakers, gated by γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) action. Advances in molecular and statistical genetics permit examination of quantitative traits such as the beta frequency of the human electroencephalogram in conjunction with DNA markers. We report a significant linkage and linkage disequilibrium between beta frequency and a set of GABA(A) receptor genes. Uncovering the genes influencing brain oscillations provides a better understanding of the neural function involved in information processing.