Fuelled by the ongoing genomic revolution, broadscale RNA expression surveys are fast replacing studies targeting one or a few genes to understand the molecular basis of behaviour. Yet, the timescale of RNA-sequencing experiments and the dynamics of neural gene activation are insufficient to drive real-time switches between behavioural states. Moreover, the spatial, functional and transcriptional complexity of the brain (the most commonly targeted tissue in studies of behaviour) further complicates inference. We argue that a Central Dogma-like ‘back-to-basics’ assumption that gene expression changes cause behaviour leaves some of the most important aspects of gene–behaviour relationships unexplored, including the roles of environmental influences, timing and feedback from behaviour—and the environmental shifts it causes—to neural gene expression. No perfect experimental solutions exist but we advocate that explicit consideration, exploration and discussion of these factors will pave the way toward a richer understanding of the complicated relationships between genes, environments, brain gene expression and behaviour over developmental and evolutionary timescales.

在正在进行的基因组革命的推动下，大规模的 RNA 表达调查正在迅速取代针对一个或几个基因的研究，以了解行为的分子基础。然而，RNA 测序实验的时间尺度和神经基因激活的动力学不足以驱动行为状态之间的实时切换。此外，大脑（行为研究中最常见的目标组织）的空间、功能和转录复杂性进一步使推理复杂化。我们认为，基因表达变化导致行为的类似中心法则的“回归基础”假设使基因-行为关系的一些最重要方面未被探索，包括环境影响、时间和行为反馈的作用——以及它引起的环境变化——神经基因表达。