Genome-wide association studies of infant and toddler temperament in European and multi-ancestry populations
AI Summary
Cross-age SNP heritabilities: emotionality 6.79%, activity 9.55%, shyness 15.26%, sociability 3.42% (n = 43,963 to 72,663).
Ten genome-wide significant loci identified; two colocalised with adult cortex eQTLs: RHEBL1 linked to activity, MR1 linked to emotionality.
Early temperament shows genetic continuity with later outcomes: emotionality with adult neuroticism, activity with ADHD, sociability with autism, shyness with extraversion.
Early temperament, such as socio-emotional development and activity level, varies widely, yet its underlying biological associations are not understood. We identified genetic variation associated with infant and toddler temperament using genome-wide association meta-analyses. We studied parent-rated emotionality, activity, shyness and sociability (n = 43,963-72,663) in the second and third postnatal years and a cross-age average. Cross-age single nucleotide polymorphism heritabilities for emotionality, activity, shyness and sociability were 6.79% (95% confidence interval (CI), (4.71%, 8.87%)), 9.55% (95% CI, (7.04%, 12.06%)), 15.26% (95% CI, (12.24%, 18.28%)) and 3.42% (95% CI, (1.30%, 5.54%)), respectively. Ten genome-wide significant loci were discovered. Two loci colocalized with expression quantitative trait loci in the adult cortex: RHEBL1 (posterior probability, 0.93; associated with activity) and MR1 (posterior probability, 0.99; with emotionality). Genetic correlations were observed between early temperament and later outcomes, such as emotionality and adult neuroticism, activity and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sociability and autism, and shyness and adult extraversion. Multi-ancestry (n = 56,083-78,894) and European-ancestry analyses gave similar results. Infant and toddler temperament is associated with genetic variation and shows genetic continuity with later outcomes.
Clin Case Rep. 2026 Jul 1;14(7):e73055. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.73055. eCollection 2026 Jul.ABSTRACTGraves' disease may rarely present with predominant neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as severe, treatment-resistant panic attacks,...
Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2026 Aug;56(4):e70124. doi: 10.1111/sltb.70124.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: Passive suicidal ideation (SI) is a well-established risk factor for suicidal behavior but has received less attention...
Neuropsychopharmacol Hung. 2026 Jun;28(2):85-101.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Childhood trauma constitutes a major public health issue, as it is associated with enduring mental and physical health complications, as well...
Neuropsychopharmacol Hung. 2026 Jun;28(2):66-84.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: This study aimed to adapt the Children's Kitchen Task Assessment for Hungarian primary school children and to investigate its relationship with...
Front Psychiatry. 2026 Jun 17;17:1800695. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1800695. eCollection 2026.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Treatment options for severe self-injurious behavior (SIB) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with comorbid intellectual disability...
Front Sociol. 2026 Jun 17;11:1850315. doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2026.1850315. eCollection 2026.ABSTRACTThis article proposes a reconceptualisation of children's surname attribution as a gendered site of symbolic power within...
