The Electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectrum of an individual is the amount of electrical activity of the brain during sleep during periods of Non-Rapid Eye Movement. For healthy humans this is usually between 8-16Hz. Previous studies have shown the EEG power spectrum to be stable and consistent for an individual, evening during environmental disturbance, and as such each person has an EEG profile or fingerprint.
A recent study by scientists of the University of Rome tested the hypothesis that this EEG profile is genetically determined. They used a simple experiment comparing Monozygotic twins to Dizygotic twins, measuring their EEG during sleep under controlled conditions. They found a 96% similarity in the profiles of Monozygotic twins, compared to less than 50% similarity in the Dizygotic group. Furthermore, they achieved the same results when testing the hypothesis with an extra condition of sleep deprivation.
This is a remarkable finding which indicates that sleep patterns could be one of the most heritable traits that exists in humans. The EEG power spectrum has been shown to be almost identical in Monozygotic twins, regardless of sleep need or intensity. Since previous studies indicate the EEG is resistant to external perturbation, this opens up an entirely new and exciting method for stable comparison between individuals in the science of sleep; an area which largely remains a mystery to the scientific community.
This is a remarkable finding which indicates that sleep patterns could be one of the most heritable traits that exists in humans. The EEG power spectrum has been shown to be almost identical in Monozygotic twins, regardless of sleep need or intensity. Since previous studies indicate the EEG is resistant to external perturbation, this opens up an entirely new and exciting method for stable comparison between individuals in the science of sleep; an area which largely remains a mystery to the scientific community.
Reference:
De Gennaro, L. et al. (2008). The electroencephalographic fingerprint of sleep is
genetically determined: a twin study. Annals of Neurology. 64(4), 455-460.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/cgi-bin/fulltext/121371959/PDFSTART
De Gennaro, L. et al. (2008). The electroencephalographic fingerprint of sleep is
genetically determined: a twin study. Annals of Neurology. 64(4), 455-460.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/cgi-bin/fulltext/121371959/PDFSTART
By Brendan Mitchell (41438651)
