Genetic determinants of EEG sleep: a study in twins living apart.

In order to investigate the genetic components of sleep and, in particular, of REM sleep, we performed 3 consecutive all-night EEG recordings in 26 pairs of normal male twins living apart (11 monozygotic and 15 dizygotic). Our results indicate that in man non-genetic rather than genetic influences substantially determine variance in stage REM, in contrast to stages 2, 4 and to delta sleep. In this sample of male twins, waking measures also showed a significant genetic component.Journal Article