Sex differences in early verbal and non‐verbal cognitive development
Abstract
The present study of over 3000 2‐year‐old twin pairs used a sex‐limitation model to examine genetic and environmental origins of sex differences in verbal and non‐verbal cognitive ability. Girls scored significantly higher on both measures (p<0.0001), although gender only accounted for approximately 3% of the variance in verbal ability and 1% of the variance in non‐verbal cognitive ability. For the verbal measure boys showed greater heritability than girls. Also the twin‐pair correlation is significantly lower for opposite‐sex twins than for non‐identical same‐sex twins. This indicates that individual differences in verbal ability include some sex‐specific factors. Non‐verbal cognitive ability did not differ in aetiology for boys and girls. We conclude that genetic and environmental influences differ for girls and boys for early verbal but not non‐verbal development.
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These findings are consistent with reports from large N studies of a female advantage in both verbal and nonverbal functioning among low-risk children between 1 and 3 years of age.
“These findings are consistent with reports from large N studies of a female advantage in both verbal and nonverbal functioning among low-risk children between 1 and 3 years of age [36–39].”
From Early sex differences are not autism-specific: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC) study (2015) · cites this paper as [37]
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Eriksson, M., Marschik, P. B., Tulviste, T., Almgren, M., Pérez Pereira, M., Wehberg, S., Marjanovič‐Umek, L., Gayraud, F., Kovacevic, M., & Gallego, C. (2012) · British Journal of Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.2044-835x.2011.02042.x · Cited by 438 · see citing works
Trouton, A., Spinath, F. M., & Plomin, R. (2002) · Twin Research · doi:10.1375/136905202320906255 · Cited by 410 · see citing works
Self-citationEarly sex differences are not autism-specific: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC) study
Messinger, D. S., Young, G. S., Webb, S. J., Ozonoff, S., Bryson, S. E., Carter, A., Carver, L., Charman, T., Chawarska, K., Curtin, S., et al. (2015) · Molecular Autism · doi:10.1186/s13229-015-0027-y · Cited by 207 · see citing works
Gender differences in early stages of language development. Some evidence and possible explanations
Rinaldi, P., Pasqualetti, P., Volterra, V., & Caselli, M. C. (2023) · Journal of Neuroscience Research · doi:10.1002/jnr.24914 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Reinhardt, V. P., Wetherby, A. M., Schatschneider, C., & Lord, C. (2015) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2223-6 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
- Authors
- Galsworthy, M. J., Dionne, G., Dale, P. S., & Plomin, R.
- Affiliations
- Université Laval (CA)
- University of Missouri (US)
- Corresponding author
- Galsworthy, Michael J.
- Venue
- Developmental Science
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2000-05
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 206-215
- ISSN
- 1363-755X (ISSN-L)
- 1467-7687
- OpenAlex
- W1969955981
- Cited by
- 200
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 3.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Developmental Science (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
- Keywords
- sex differences, verbal ability, nonverbal ability, cognitive development, heritability, twin pairs, environmental influences, two-year-old children, gender differences
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