Developmental Science · 2005 · 252 citations · 44 references
Life SciencesGeneticsPsychologyAutism Spectrum DisordersDevelopmental PsychologySocial BehaviorAutism Spectrum Disorder GeneticsDevelopmental Behavioral GeneticsNeurodevelopmental DisordersPsychiatric GeneticsRepetitive BehaviorsTwin StudiesAntisocial Behavior DevelopmentChildhood Twin DevelopmentGenetic Correlation In Twin StudiesSocial Behavior DevelopmentSocial Behavior GeneticsTwin Designs
Social and nonsocial behaviours in children are key to diagnosing autism spectrum disorders. Separating these behaviours may clarify gene‑brain‑behaviour pathways in future research. The study used parent and teacher reports from a community sample of over 3,000 7‑year‑old twin pairs. Social and nonsocial behaviours are only modestly correlated, with some children showing extreme scores in one domain but not the other, and genetic analysis shows both are highly heritable yet share only modest genetic overlap, largely specific to each domain.
Abstract Two types of behaviours shown in children – those reflecting social impairment and nonsocial obsessive repetitive behaviours – are central to defining and diagnosing autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Parent and teacher data on social and nonsocial behaviours were obtained from a community sample of >3000 7‐year‐old twin pairs. Social and nonsocial behaviours were only modestly correlated, and it was found that some individuals had extreme scores on either social or nonsocial scales but not both. Genetic model‐fitting showed that social and nonsocial behaviours are both highly heritable, but their genetic overlap is modest, with most of the genetic influence being specific to either social or nonsocial behaviours. Considering these behaviours separately might help clarify gene‐brain‐behaviour pathways in future research.
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