Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Development of Intelligence
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Measures of intelligence were collected in 209 twin pairs at 5, 7, 10, and 12 years of age, as part of a longitudinal project on intelligence, brain function, and behavioral problems. Intelligence was measured at 5, 7, and 10 years of age with the RAKIT, a well-known Dutch intelligence test, consisting of 6 subscales. At 12 years of age, the complete WISC-R was administered (12 subscales). Both intelligence tests resulted in a measure of full-scale IQ (FSIQ). Participation rate is around 93% at age 12. Correlation coefficients over time are high: (r(5-7) = .65; r(5-10) = .65; r(5-12) = .64; r(7-10) = .72; r(7-12) = .69 and r(10-12) = .78). Genetic analyses show significant heritabilities at all ages, with the expected increase of genetic influences and decrease of shared environmental influences over the years. Genetic influences seem to be the main driving force behind continuity in general cognitive ability, represented by a common factor influencing FSIQ at all ages. Shared environmental influences are responsible for stability as well as change in the development of cognitive abilities, represented by a common factor influencing FSIQ at all ages and age-specific influences, respectively.
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The pattern of decrease in shared environment and concomitant increase in heritability during development is relatively common for personality traits and cognitive abilities, and has also been found for prosocial behavior.
“This pattern of decrease in shared environment, and a concomitant increase in heritability during development, is relatively common for personality traits and cognitive abilities (Bartels et al., 2002; Loehlin, 1992; Plomin et al., 2001; Scarr and McCartney, 1983), and has also been found for other phenotypes including prosocial behavior (Knafo and Plomin, 2006).”
From Human Aggression Across the Lifespan (2011) · cites this paper as Bartels et al., 2002
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“IQ data at age 12 were collected in twins who took part in developmental studies of cognition and brain development (Bartels et al. 2002); IQ was assessed using the Dutch version of the WISC-R.”
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“…differences in cognitive functioning has established that the heritability of normal cognitive functioning increases over age, with a broad range heritability estimates varying from 25% in children to 85% in adults (e.g., Haworth et al. 2009; Bartels et al. 2002a; Bouchard and McGue 1981).”
BackgroundSelf-citation
- Authors
- Bartels, M., Rietveld, M. J. H., Van Baal, G. C. M., & Boomsma, D. I.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Bartels, M.
- Venue
- Behavior Genetics
- Published
- 2002-07
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 237-249
- ISSN
- 0001-8244 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3297
- OpenAlex
- W2137584163
- Cited by
- 215
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 9.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Behavior Genetics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Digital Academic REpository of VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Intergenerational and Educational Inequality Studies
- Keywords
- intelligence development, heritability, shared environment, twin pairs, longitudinal study, WISC-R, Full Scale IQ
- MeSH terms
- Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Netherlands, Social Environment, Twins
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