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. 2015 Nov;45(6):600-9.
doi: 10.1007/s10519-015-9747-1. Epub 2015 Sep 21.

Applying Biometric Growth Curve Models to Developmental Synchronies in Cognitive Development: The Louisville Twin Study

Deborah Finkel  1 , Deborah Winders Davis  2 , Eric Turkheimer  3 , William T Dickens  4
Affiliations

Applying Biometric Growth Curve Models to Developmental Synchronies in Cognitive Development: The Louisville Twin Study

Deborah Finkel et al. Behav Genet. 2015 Nov.

Abstract

Biometric latent growth curve models were applied to data from the LTS in order to replicate and extend Wilson's (Child Dev 54:298-316, 1983) findings. Assessments of cognitive development were available from 8 measurement occasions covering the period 4-15 years for 1032 individuals. Latent growth curve models were fit to percent correct for 7 subscales: information, similarities, arithmetic, vocabulary, comprehension, picture completion, and block design. Models were fit separately to WPPSI (ages 4-6 years) and WISC-R (ages 7-15). Results indicated the expected increases in heritability in younger childhood, and plateaus in heritability as children reached age 10 years. Heritability of change, per se (slope estimates), varied dramatically across domains. Significant genetic influences on slope parameters that were independent of initial levels of performance were found for only information and picture completion subscales. Thus evidence for both genetic continuity and genetic innovation in the development of cognitive abilities in childhood were found.

Keywords: Cognitive development; Genetic continuity; Genetic discontinuity; Latent growth curve; Longitudinal twin design; Louisville Twin Study.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Two-slope biometric latent growth curve model. Observed data are denoted by y0 through y4. Mi = mean intercept; Ms1 = mean slope 1; Ms2 = mean slope 2; U0 through U4 indicate random error. I, S1, and S2 refer to intercept, slope 1, and slope 2. The paths from the latent slopes to the observed scores are the age basis coefficients, B1t and B2t, which define the intervals of change over age. The model includes additive genetic effects for the intercept (Ai) and slopes (As1 and As2).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in heritability (h2; solid line) and shared environment (c2; dashed line) with age, as estimated by the biometric latent growth curve model.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Age changes in raw genetic variance from ages 4 to 6 years.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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