Speaking Fundamental Frequency in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins

The speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) and the intraindividual variation of the SFF during the reading of a Dutch standard text were measured in 30 female monozygotic twins (MT) and 30 dizygotic twins (DT), aged 15–29 years. A control group was created that consisted of 30 nonrelated paired individuals of equal age. Studying the intrapair correlation coefficients it seemed that the SFF was similar to a greater degree in MT and to a lesser degree in DT, while there was no correlation at all in nonrelated peers. These results are compatible with a genetic basis for the SFF. On the other hand, the intraindividual variation of the SFF was highly similar in MT and in DT (but not in nonrelated peers), so that for this parameter it was not possible to discern the influences of genetic disposition and shared environment.