Heritability estimates for the visual evoked response

Genetics of the human electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related brain potentials (ERPs): a review

“…Some of the twins were examined twice and, in some cases, the correlation between twins increased after the retest. Similar results were obtained by Osborn (1970). For visual waveform similarity, MZ correlations averaged 0.77, DZ correlations 0.53, and UR correlations 0.11.…”

“…For the exogenous part of the ERP, a significant portion of genetically induced variability is suggested, as seen by the higher similarity in MZ twins compared with DZ twins and UR subjects (Table 2). When looking at waveform similarity, this result is observed repeatedly (Dustman and Beck 1965;Osborn 1970;Lewis et al 1972;Young et al 1972). MZ correlations between 0.71 and 0.88, DZ correlations between 0.33 and 0.58, both for auditory and visual waveform ERP, were found.…”

Pattern-Reversal Visual Evoked Potentials in Normal 7- to 15-Year-Old Twins: A Correlation Analysis

“…Juel-Nielsen and Harvald [1958] also suggested that EEG tracings had a genetic basis. Using unpatterned (blank) flashes of light as eye stimulation, some authors compared visual evoked potentials (VEPs) of monozygotic (MZ) or iden tical twins, dizygotic (DZ) or fraternal twins and sets of unrelated, age-matched subjects and reported a greater degree of morphological resemblance between the VEPs of MZ twin pairs than between the VEPs of other pairs [Dustman and Beck, 1965;Osborne, 1970;Lewis et al, 1972;Dustman et al, 1977], It is well known that recently the visual evoked poten tials to pattern reversals (PRVEPs) have been much more widely used in clinical testing than flash VEPs because the PRVEPs are more reproducible over time and variability of the main peak delays, both within and between subjects, is smaller [Shearer et al, 1984], They also provide relevant and reliable information regarding the visual system probity [La Marche et al, 1986]. How ever, despite the wide acceptance of this method as being valuable in investigating the visual system, no paper has yet been published analyzing, in normal preadolescent twins, either the pattern evoked potentials in general or pattern-reversal evoked potentials in particular.…”

Average evoked response and stimulus intensity in identical and fraternal twins

“…1 and 2) in monozygotic twin pairs compellingly illustrates the importance of familial factors in the AER. Previous studies employing AER techniques have found greater waveform and amplitude similarities in monozygotic (MZ) twins than in dizygotic (DZ) twins (Dustman & Beck, 1965;Osborne, 1970;Lewis et al, 1972;Young et al, 1972). The significance of these findings is uncertain, since similarities in waveform or amplitude may reflect a variety of relatively nonspecific anatomical features.…”