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Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

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Published on: October 2, 2019

Sleep during a regular week night: a twin-sibling study.

Dorret I Boomsma¹, Eus J W van Someren, A Leo Beem

¹Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands. DI.Boomsma@psy.vu.nl

Twin Research and Human Genetics : the Official Journal of the International Society for Twin Studies

|October 3, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Genetic factors influence single-night sleep traits like bedtime and awakening time, with significant sex-specific differences observed. This suggests heritability plays a role in individual sleep patterns, even for short durations.

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Genetics
Sleep Science
Human Physiology

Background:

Previous research on sleep genetics primarily examined long-term sleep patterns.
Understanding the heritability of short-term sleep traits is crucial for a comprehensive view of sleep variation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the heritability of single-night sleep traits, including bedtime, awakening time, and subjective sleep quality.
To explore sex-specific genetic influences on these sleep parameters.

Main Methods:

Utilized a classical twin study design with adult twin pairs and their siblings (N=813).
Assessed single-night sleep variables (bedtime, awakening time, sleep quality) and lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, coffee, stress) via diary.
Employed family resemblance analysis to estimate heritability as a function of sex.

Main Results:

Most sleep measures exhibited familial clustering, indicating genetic influence.
Heritability was observed for bedtime and sleep problems in women, and for awakening time in men.
Environmental factors significantly influenced awakening time in women and bedtime in men, reducing genetic contribution.

Conclusions:

Heritability is demonstrable for single-night sleep traits, including bedtime and subjective sleep quality.
The genetic contribution to sleep traits is sex-specific.
Environmental factors play a substantial role in specific sleep parameters, varying between sexes.