title: Applying Biometric Growth Curve Models to Developmental Synchronies in Cognitive Development: The Louisville Twin Study.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Indiana University Southeast, 4201 Grant Line Road, New Albany, IN, USA. dfinkel@ius.edu.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2346-2470
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Finkel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah Winders
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turkheimer
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Dickens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male
keywords: Cognitive development; Genetic continuity; Genetic discontinuity; Latent growth curve; Longitudinal twin design; Louisville Twin Study