Perhaps the most exciting strength of ENIGMA is its ability to unite researchers using neuroimaging worldwide in a common purpose. The fact that so many investigators are actively involved makes it possible to benefit from the combined resources and talents of all participants for “crowd-sourcing” discovery. Also, the sample sizes involved—unprecedented for a neuroimaging study—alleviate some of the concerns about underpowered studies and unreliable findings (Button et al. 2013). In addition, apart from identifying genetic variants, another important role for the ENIGMA consortium is to help understand how GWAS-derived genetic variants for behavioral phenotypes influence the brain. Exploring the effects of disease risk alleles on brain measures can help us understand the brain systems affected, and at which stage—and also whether the effects are pervasive or selective (de Geus 2010).
