[R-sig-ME] variance-covariance matrix of the estimations of the variance-covariance matrix of the random effects

[Resche Rigon Matthieu]

Dear all,

I try to obtain the variance-covariance matrix of the estimations of 
the variance covariance matrix of the random effects. I know how 
obtain it using lme but I would like to obtain it with lmer(). Is it 
possible?

Moreover do you know which formula is applied by ranef() to extract 
the conditional modes and the conditional variance-covariance
  matrix of the random effects?

Thanks in advance

Matthieu