Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit

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Imaging Genetics: genes and reward processing

One major goal of neuroscientific research is to understand the biological principles that underlie complex cognitive and emotional processes. For nearly every area of behaviour studied, twin and adoption studies have shown strong genetic influences. In order to understand human cognition and behaviour, we must now learn how these genes work at the level of the intact organism.

Thus the proposed project combines genomics, cognitive neuroscience and brain imaging to investigate functional polymorphisms which impact the brain reward system. Genotypic variations are an obvious component of individual differences in cognitive performance and brain functioning. The results of this study are therefore not only of academic interest, but also have clinical relevance.

Please send questions and comments to:

claus.lamm@univie.ac.at

uta.sailer@univie.ac.at