Dutch investigator have uncovered a possible novel biological basis for intelligence agency : People with mellow IQs appear to have bigger nerve cell as well as encephalon cells that are adequate to of withstanding electric signals at high frequencies than low IQ someone . These findings expand the list of possible biological factor necessitate in intelligence activity .
The study is available on the pre - print serverbioRXivand focuses on the correlativity between IQ and a cellular structure in a small number of tested people . The team involve 35 patients that need brain surgery for either a tumor or stern epilepsy for a midget sample of salubrious brain tissue paper . They also completed an IQ test before the operation .
The sample distribution were taken from the temporal lobe of the brain , which is involved in the processing of sensory inputs , the retentiveness of memories , and nomenclature comprehension . The squad see that the sizing of neurons correlated well with I.Q. test results . But it was n’t just that – these big cells have more dendrites , the connections to other neuron , and they are longer .
The team also tested the ability of these nerve cell to transmit electric signal . They used a current at different frequence to look for correlations between one ’s IQ and electric cell conduct . neuron from those with a high IQ get by better with higher frequencies than those with a modest IQ , whose neurons became slow as the frequency increase .
The enquiry suggest that vainglorious cells , longsighted and more legion dendrites , and the power to cope with faster signals give people the ability to process information more apace . This speed advantage is then witnessed in reaction times and is assess by the IQ tests .
This piece of enquiry is extremely challenging , but it is not the end - all , be - all of the biological causes of intelligence . First of all , 35 people is a very modest sampling size . Researchers have also previously found that grey thing heaviness and bodily function in the temporal and head-on cortex are linked to higher intelligence service . Genetics might also play asmall role , and it is unclear whether these biologic factors are a case or consequence of high news .
When it comes to measure intelligence with standardized intelligence quotient tests , we need to think that what ’s in your skull is not the only thing that matter . Other factors – such as wellness , education , and bringing up – play a role in doing well on an IQ test , which it should be mark some think are not the undecomposed indicator of intelligence information .
[ H / T : New Scientist ]
