Twins Early Development Study - Main Research Topics

Main Research Topics

TEDS was originally set up with funding from the Medical Research Council in order to investigate the genetic and environmental origins of common cognitive disabilities and abilities, learning disabilities and abilities (e.g. language, reading, mathematical abilities and disabilities) and behaviour problems (e.g. hyperactivity). Although the main focus remains on these topics, TEDS has also looked at other topics such as gender role development, prosocial behaviour, food choices, asthma, and sources of heterogeneity and comorbidity in psychopathology. TEDS’ research also addresses the relationship between ability and disability, i.e. can disability be understood in terms of the extreme end of a continuum of normal variation in ability. The incorporation of environmental measures (e.g. measures of home and school environment) in genetically sensitive designs allows TEDS to study the interplay between nature and nurture; such as exposure to certain environments for genetic reasons (gene-environment correlation) and differential sensitivity to the environment based on people’s genetic make-up (gene-environment interaction).