We investigated genetic influence on sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) composition by a classical twin study of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins in the first 3 months of life. Polysomnographic (PSG) recordings were obtained in 10 MZ and 20 DZ twin pairs in the 37th, 46th, and 52nd week of postmenstrual age (PMA). The EEG power spectra were generated on the basis of fast Fourier transformation (FFT). Genetic influence on active sleep/rapid eye movement (AS/REM)] and quiet sleep/ non rapid eye movement (QS/NREM) sleep composition was estimated by calculating within pair concordance and the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for delta (0.5-3.5 Hz), theta (4-7.5 Hz), alpha (8-11.5 Hz), sigma (12-14 Hz), and beta (14.5-20 Hz) at central derivation. MZ twins show higher ICCs than DZ twins for alpha, sigma, and beta spectral powers during QS/NREM sleep in the 37th, 46th, and 52nd week PMA. However, there was no significant difference (P > .05) between the 2 types of twins in absolute differences of EEG spectral power of the alpha, beta, and sigma frequency ranges in the 37th, 46th, and 52nd week PMA. The greatest mean absolute difference within MZ and DZ twin pairs and also between MZ and DZ twin groups was identified in the delta frequency range. Our findings gave an indication of genetic influence on alpha, sigma, and beta frequency ranges in the QS/NREM sleep stage.
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