학술논문
Using a polygenic score in a family design to understand genetic influences on musicality.
Document Type
Article
Author
Wesseldijk, Laura W.; Abdellaoui, Abdel; Gordon, Reyna L.; 23andMe Research Team; Aslibekyan, Stella; Auton, Adam; Babalola, Elizabeth; Bell, Robert K.; Bielenberg, Jessica; Bryc, Katarzyna; Bullis, Emily; Coker, Daniella; Partida, Gabriel Cuellar; Dhamija, Devika; Das, Sayantan; Elson, Sarah L.; Filshtein, Teresa; Fletez-Brant, Kipper; Fontanillas, Pierre; Freyman, Will
Source
Subject
*ABSOLUTE pitch
*ASSORTATIVE mating
*HOME environment
*FAMILIES
*MELODY
*
*
*
*
Language
ISSN
2045-2322
Abstract
To further our understanding of the genetics of musicality, we explored associations between a polygenic score for self-reported beat synchronization ability (PGSrhythm) and objectively measured rhythm discrimination, as well as other validated music skills and music-related traits. Using family data, we were able to further explore potential pathways of direct genetic, indirect genetic (through passive gene–environment correlation) and confounding effects (such as population structure and assortative mating). In 5648 Swedish twins, we found PGSrhythm to predict not only rhythm discrimination, but also melody and pitch discrimination (betas between 0.11 and 0.16, p < 0.001), as well as other music-related outcomes (p < 0.05). In contrast, PGSrhythm was not associated with control phenotypes not directly related to music. Associations did not deteriorate within families (N = 243), implying that indirect genetic or confounding effects did not inflate PGSrhythm effects. A correlation (r = 0.05, p < 0.001) between musical enrichment of the family childhood environment and individuals' PGSrhythm, suggests gene–environment correlation. We conclude that the PGSrhythm captures individuals' general genetic musical propensity, affecting musical behavior more likely direct than through indirect or confounding effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]