Leiden University Scholarly Publications

Persistent URL of this record https://hdl.handle.net/1887/109815

In Collections

This item can be found in the following collections:

Out, D.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J.; Granger, D.A.; Cobbaert, C.M.; Ijzendoorn, M.H. van (2011)

State and trait variance in salivary alpha-amylase: A behavioral genetic study

Article / Letter to editor
This is the first behavior genetic study of salivary -amylase (sAA), focusing on genetic and environmental influences on stability and change in sAA during baseline and exposure to infant crying. The sample consisted of 184 adult twin pairs. Although there was significant variation between individuals in basal levels of sAA and in responsivity to infant crying, strong stability in sAA concentrations across conditions was found. Similar genetic mechanisms influenced sAA at baseline and in response to cry sounds (explained variance: 51–62%), accounting for part of the stability in sAA. Unique environmental factors explained the remaining variance in sAA, some of them only emerging in response to the cry sounds, explaining individual differences in the pattern of reactivity. These findings confirm that sAA is sensitive to the effects of potentially stressful stimuli (state variance) and at the same time demonstrate its relative robustness and stability across time and conditions (trait...Show moreThis is the first behavior genetic study of salivary -amylase (sAA), focusing on genetic and environmental influences on stability and change in sAA during baseline and exposure to infant crying. The sample consisted of 184 adult twin pairs. Although there was significant variation between individuals in basal levels of sAA and in responsivity to infant crying, strong stability in sAA concentrations across conditions was found. Similar genetic mechanisms influenced sAA at baseline and in response to cry sounds (explained variance: 51–62%), accounting for part of the stability in sAA. Unique environmental factors explained the remaining variance in sAA, some of them only emerging in response to the cry sounds, explaining individual differences in the pattern of reactivity. These findings confirm that sAA is sensitive to the effects of potentially stressful stimuli (state variance) and at the same time demonstrate its relative robustness and stability across time and conditions (trait variance).Show less
Salivary alpha-amylase
Twins
Behavior genetics
Genes
Infant crying
All authors
Out, D.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J.; Granger, D.A.; Cobbaert, C.M.; Ijzendoorn, M.H. van
Date
2011-09-30
Journal
Biological Psychology
Volume
88
Issue
1
Pages
147 - 154
DOI
doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2011.07.008