Individual differences

Given the remarkable complexity of the human brain, it is perhaps no great surprise that individual differences in brain structure and function are ubiquitous. This variability has traditionally been ascribed to measurement error in classical analyses of neuroimaging data. However, mounting evidence over several decades has culminated in the inescapable realization that inter-individual variability is both biologically and behaviorally-relevant. Here we review this powerful body of literature, from the early days of structural and functional neuroimaging to issues at the modern cutting-edge, and discuss the means through which embracing this variability can improve our understanding of the mind and brain.