Common aetiology for diverse language skills in 41/2-year-old twins

Hayiou-Thomas, M.E., Kovas, Y., Harlaar, N., Plomin, R., Bishop, D.V.M. and Dale, P.S. (2006) Common aetiology for diverse language skills in 41/2-year-old twins. Journal of Child Language. pp. 339-368. ISSN 0305-0009

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Abstract

Multivariate genetic analysis was used to examine the genetic and environmental aetiology of the interrelationships of diverse linguistic skills. This study used data from a large sample of 4 1/2 year-old twins who were tested on measures assessing articulation, phonology, grammar, vocabulary, and verbal memory. Phenotypic analysis suggested two latent factors: articulation (2 measures) and general language (the remaining 7), and a genetic model incorporating these factors provided a good fit to the data. Almost all genetic and shared environmental influences on the 9 measures acted through the two latent factors. There was also substantial aetiological overlap between the two latent factors, with a genetic correlation of 0·64 and shared environment correlation of 1·00. We conclude that to a large extent, the same genetic and environmental factors underlie the development of individual differences in a wide range of linguistic skills.

Item Type:	Article
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:	© 2006 Cambridge University Press. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.
Academic Units:	The University of York > Psychology (York)
Depositing User:	Repository Officer
Date Deposited:	01 May 2007
Last Modified:	19 Feb 2013 11:42
Published Version:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0305000906007331
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Yes
Related URLs:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0305000906007...
URI:	http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/1740

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