Abstract
We examined the genetic architecture of a Tower of London test of planning and problem-solving in 690 middle-aged male twins. Phenotypic analyses revealed only one general factor, but the best-fitting genetic model indicated two correlated genetic factors: speed and efficiency. One variable—number of attempts required to mentally figure the puzzles—loaded on both factors. Shared environmental effects could be dropped with virtually no reduction in model fit. Despite significant nonshared environmental correlations across measures, there was no discernable nonshared environmental factor structure. The correlation between genetic factors (r = 0.46) and the variable loading on both factors could reflect modulation of planning, testing alternatives, and working memory that are required to perform the test. Such coordinated activity is consistent with the notion of a supervisory attentional system, a central executive, or metacognitive ability. The different phenotypic and genetic factor results suggest that relying solely on the former could obscure genetic associations.
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Notes
We use Tower of London as a general term referring to the original Shallice task as well as other variants that have been developed.
Test 1 actually had 18 trials but 4 trials were scored incorrectly due to a computer program error. Thus, scores were based on the average of the 14 useable trials.
To provide additional confirmation of our conclusions, we also reversed the order of these approaches. That is, we tested whether the nonshared environmental covariance structure could be simplified while not imposing any constraints on the genetic factor structure (i.e., leaving the genetic factors as a Cholesky). Because these results yielded identical conclusions about the nature of the nonshared environmental covariance structure, we present only the first set of results.
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Acknowledgments
Preparation of this article was supported in part by National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism AA10586 and National Institute on Aging Grants AG18386-A1, AG18386-A2, AG22381, and AG22982. Portions of these data were presented at the Behavior Genetics Association meeting, July 2005, and the Gerontological Society of America meeting, November 2005. The US Department of Veterans Affairs has provided financial support for the development and maintenance of the Vietnam Era Twin (VET) Registry. Numerous organizations have provided invaluable assistance in the conduct of this study, including: Department of Defense; National Personnel Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration; Internal Revenue Service; National Opinion Research Center; National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences; the Institute for Survey Research, Temple University. Most importantly, the authors gratefully acknowledge the continued cooperation and participation of the members of the VET Registry and their families. Without their contribution this research would not have been possible.
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Kremen, W.S., Jacobson, K.C., Panizzon, M.S. et al. Factor Structure of Planning and Problem-solving: A Behavioral Genetic Analysis of the Tower of London Task in Middle-aged Twins. Behav Genet 39, 133–144 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-008-9242-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-008-9242-z