Heritability of background EEG across the power spectrum.

We estimated the genetic and nongenetic (environmental) contributions to individual differences in the background EEG power spectrum in two age cohorts with mean ages of 26.2 and 49.4 years. Nineteen-lead EEG was recorded with eyes closed from 142 monozygotic and 167 dizygotic twin pairs and their siblings, totaling 760 subjects. We obtained power spectra in 24 bins of 1 Hz ranging from 1.0 to 25.0 Hz. Generally, heritability was highest around the alpha peak frequency and lower in the theta and delta bands. In the beta band heritability gradually decreased with increasing frequency, especially in the temporal regions. Genetic correlations between power in the classical broad bands indicated that half to three-quarters of the genetic variance can be attributed to a common source. We conclude that across the scalp and most of the frequency spectrum, individual differences in adult EEG are largely determined by genetic factors.

[1]  Hallowell Davis,et al.  ACTION POTENTIALS OF THE BRAIN: IN NORMAL PERSONS AND IN NORMAL STATES OF CEREBRAL ACTIVITY , 1936 .

[2]  F. Vogel,et al.  The genetic basis of the normal human electroencephalogram (EEG) , 1970, Humangenetik.

[3]  K. Lange,et al.  Extensions to pedigree analysis III. Variance components by the scoring method , 1976, Annals of human genetics.

[4]  Robert J Barry,et al.  Specificity of quantitative EEG analysis in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , 2002, Psychiatry Research.

[5]  Charles Bradley,et al.  ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC ANALYSES OF BEHAVIOR PROBLEM CHILDREN , 1938 .

[6]  B. Oken,et al.  Test-retest reliability in EEG frequency analysis. , 1991, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[7]  Vincent J Monastra,et al.  Assessing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder via quantitative electroencephalography: an initial validation study. , 1999, Neuropsychology.

[8]  T M Itil,et al.  Electroencephalograms in children of alcoholic fathers. , 1982, Psychophysiology.

[9]  Rodney J Croft,et al.  Effects of stimulant medications on children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and excessive beta activity in their EEG , 2003, Clinical Neurophysiology.

[10]  H. Grüneberg,et al.  Introduction to quantitative genetics , 1960 .

[11]  P. Propping.  Genetic control of ethanol action on the central nervous system , 1977, Human Genetics.

[12]  J. Knott,et al.  Regarding the American Electroencephalographic Society guidelines for standard electrode position nomenclature: a commentary on the proposal to change the 10-20 electrode designators. , 1993, Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society.

[13]  W. Ray,et al.  EEG alpha activity reflects attentional demands, and beta activity reflects emotional and cognitive processes. , 1985, Science.

[14]  M M Mesulam,et al.  Report of IFCN Committee on Basic Mechanisms. Basic mechanisms of cerebral rhythmic activities. , 1990, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[15]  R. Barry,et al.  A review of electrophysiology in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: I. Qualitative and quantitative electroencephalography , 2003, Clinical Neurophysiology.

[16]  D. Schacter.  EEG theta waves and psychological phenomena: A review and analysis , 1977, Biological Psychology.

[17]  W. Klimesch.  EEG alpha and theta oscillations reflect cognitive and memory performance: a review and analysis , 1999, Brain Research Reviews.

[18]  J C Christian,et al.  Genetic analysis of the resting electroencephalographic power spectrum in human twins. , 1996, Psychophysiology.

[19]  A. Tellegen,et al.  EEG spectra in twins: Evidence for a neglected mechanism of genetic determination , 1982 .

[20]  M. Neale,et al.  Are Smarter Brains Running Faster? Heritability of Alpha Peak Frequency, IQ, and Their Interrelation , 2001, Behavior genetics.

[21]  A Urbano,et al.  A high resolution EEG method based on the correction of the surface Laplacian estimate for the subject's variable scalp thickness. , 1997, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[22]  C. Ehlers,et al.  EEG fast frequency activity in the sons of alcoholics , 1990, Biological Psychiatry.

[23]  M. Rugg,et al.  Dissociation of alpha and theta activity as a function of verbal and visuospatial tasks. , 1982, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[24]  D W Fulker,et al.  Comparison of the biometrical genetical, MAVA, and classical approaches to the analysis of human behavior. , 1970, Psychological bulletin.

[25]  G. Baal,et al.  Twin and family studies of the human electroencephalogram: a review and a meta-analysis , 2002, Biological Psychology.

[26]  F. H. Lopes da Silva.  Neural mechanisms underlying brain waves: from neural membranes to networks. , 1991, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[27]  H. Lüders,et al.  American Electroencephalographic Society Guidelines for Standard Electrode Position Nomenclature , 1991, Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society.

[28]  D I Boomsma,et al.  Genetic Correlation Between the P300 Event-Related Brain Potential and the EEG Power Spectrum , 2001, Behavior genetics.

[29]  Robert J Barry,et al.  EEG-defined subtypes of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder , 2001, Clinical Neurophysiology.

[30]  H. Jasper.  Report of the committee on methods of clinical examination in electroencephalography , 1958 .

[31]  G. Vogler,et al.  Methodology for genetic studies of twins and families , 1993 .

[32]  C. Ehlers,et al.  Evaluation of EEG alpha activity in sons of alcoholics. , 1991, Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

[33]  D I Boomsma,et al.  Heritability of human brain functioning as assessed by electroencephalography. , 1996, American journal of human genetics.

[34]  F. L. D. Silva,et al.  Basic mechanisms of cerebral rhythmic activities , 1990 .

[35]  D. Cantwell,et al.  Response to stimulant drug treatment in hyperactive children: Prediction from EEG and neurological findings , 1973, Journal of autism and childhood schizophrenia.

[36]  D I Boomsma,et al.  Genetic architecture of EEG power spectra in early life. , 1996, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[37]  D. I. Boomsma,et al.  Genetics of the human electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related brain potentials (ERPs): a review , 1994, Human Genetics.

[38]  Alfred L. Loomis,et al.  Electrical potentials of the human brain , 1936 .

[39]  L. Lindholm,et al.  Alpha amplitude dependence on skull thickness as measured by ultrasound technique. , 1970, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[40]  W. Iacono,et al.  Genetic influences on the spontaneous EEG : An examination of 15-year-old and 17-year-old twins , 1998 .

[41]  J. Rohrbaugh,et al.  Beta power in the EEG of alcoholics , 2002, Biological Psychiatry.

[42]  R. Chabot,et al.  Quantitative electroencephalographic profiles of children with attention deficit disorder , 1996, Biological Psychiatry.