Gene-by-Environment Interactions in Human Individual Differences

The existence of gene-by-environment interactions (GxE) influencing human individual differences is likely, given both evidence from non-human animal models and evolutionary theory as applied to human development. However, there is no consistent evidence in the current psychological literature of any specific, replicable measured genotype-by-environment interaction. This project will systematically evaluate genome-wide GxE across a range of individual differences and environmental exposures, applying the Registered Report model to secondary data analysis of the UK Biobank. We will estimate the genome-wide distribution of GxE effect sizes, evaluate the shapes of identified interactions (diathesis-stress, vantage-sensitivity, and cross-over), and identify genetic variants that show evidence of generalized plasticity.