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Interaction between Parental Education and Twin Correlations for Cognitive Ability in a Norwegian Conscript Sample.
Eric Turkheimer1, Christopher R Beam2, Jon Martin Sundet3
1University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. ent3c@virginia.edu.
Behavior Genetics
|July 27, 2017
Summary
Parental education influences the heritability of general cognitive ability (GA). Twin study findings suggest socioeconomic factors may violate classical twin models, impacting genetic heritability estimates.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Genetics
- Human Cognitive Abilities
- Sociology
Background:
- Heritability of general cognitive ability (GA) is influenced by environmental factors.
- Socioeconomic status, particularly parental education, is a key environmental variable.
- Previous studies suggest potential interactions between genetics and environment in shaping cognitive abilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between parental education and the heritability of general cognitive ability (GA) in a Norwegian twin sample.
- To determine if socioeconomic status modifies the genetic and environmental influences on GA.
- To assess the validity of the classical twin model under varying levels of parental education.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1706 pairs of Norwegian twin conscripts (born 1931-1960).
- Collection of general cognitive ability (GA) scores and mid-parent education data.
- Application of classical twin modeling and ACE (Additive, Common, Unique) models.
Main Results:
- GA scores showed reduced variability at higher parental education levels (heteroscedasticity).
- Twin correlations for GA decreased linearly with increasing mid-parent education, particularly for dizygotic (DZ) twins.
- The classical twin model assumptions were violated due to the steep decline in DZ twin correlations.
Conclusions:
- Parental education significantly interacts with the heritability of general cognitive ability (GA).
- The observed heteroscedasticity and declining DZ correlations suggest limitations of the classical twin model in this context.
- Findings have implications for understanding socioeconomic interactions with GA heritability in European populations.
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