TY - JOUR
T1 - Individual differences in dynamic measures of verbal learning abilities in young twin pairs and their older siblings
AU - van Soelen, Inge L.C.
AU - van den Berg, Stéphanie M.
AU - Dekker, Peter H.
AU - van Leeuwen, Marieke
AU - Peper, Jiska S.
AU - Hulshoff Pol, Hilleke E.
AU - Boomsma, Dorret I.
PY - 2009/12/1
Y1 - 2009/12/1
N2 - We explored the genetic background of individual differences in dynamic measures of verbal learning ability in children, using a Dutch version of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT). Nine-year-old twin pairs (N = 112 pairs) were recruited from the Netherlands Twin Register. When possible, an older sibling between 10 and 14 years old participated as well (N = 99). To assess verbal learning, non-linear curves were fitted for each child individually. Two parameters were estimated: Learning Speed (LS) and Forgetting Speed (FS). Larger twin correlations in monozygotic (MZ) than in dizygotic (DZ) and sibling pairs for LS and FS indicated the importance of genetic factors in explaining variation in these traits. The heritability estimate (percentage of variance explained by genetic factors) for LS was 43% for both twins and siblings. For FS heritability was estimated at 20% in twins and was slightly higher (30%) in their older siblings.
AB - We explored the genetic background of individual differences in dynamic measures of verbal learning ability in children, using a Dutch version of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT). Nine-year-old twin pairs (N = 112 pairs) were recruited from the Netherlands Twin Register. When possible, an older sibling between 10 and 14 years old participated as well (N = 99). To assess verbal learning, non-linear curves were fitted for each child individually. Two parameters were estimated: Learning Speed (LS) and Forgetting Speed (FS). Larger twin correlations in monozygotic (MZ) than in dizygotic (DZ) and sibling pairs for LS and FS indicated the importance of genetic factors in explaining variation in these traits. The heritability estimate (percentage of variance explained by genetic factors) for LS was 43% for both twins and siblings. For FS heritability was estimated at 20% in twins and was slightly higher (30%) in their older siblings.
KW - AVLT
KW - Heritability
KW - Twin studies
KW - Verbal learning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70350003862&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.lindif.2009.03.005
DO - 10.1016/j.lindif.2009.03.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:70350003862
SN - 1041-6080
VL - 19
SP - 440
EP - 444
JO - Learning and Individual Differences
JF - Learning and Individual Differences
IS - 4
ER -