The study mentioned in point 1, conducted by Ian J. Deary and Peter G. Caryl in 1997, explored the biological basis of differences in human intelligence, focusing especially on how individuals with high IQs process information differently compared to those who have a lower IQ. The study used brain evoked potentials (ERPs) techniques, which are electrical responses in the brain that occur in response to specific stimuli.
Main findings:
- Fast Responses : Individuals with high IQ showed faster responses in some test conditions involving ERPs, indicating a more agile processing capacity.
- Distinct Waveforms : The ERP waveforms of people with high IQs were distinct from those of people with lower IQs, suggesting differences in the way their brains respond to stimuli.
- Reduced Variability : The ERPs of high IQ individuals showed less variability, which may indicate greater consistency in neural processing.
Furthermore, the study pointed out that people with higher intelligence tend to have a larger brain volume and possibly a faster neural conduction speed. Interestingly, it has also been observed that during periods of mental activity, people with high IQs have lower brain metabolic rates, suggesting that their brains operate more efficiently.
Implications:
These results support the notion that high IQ not only translates into an increased capacity for reasoning or memory, but also an underlying efficiency in brain operation that could explain the superior ability to solve complex problems. This has led to speculation that smarter people have “more efficient” brains, meaning that they need fewer resources to perform the same mental work as others.
This research is an example of how neuropsychological studies are attempting to link measurable cognitive differences to specific physical and biological processes in the brain, providing a richer understanding of the roots of human intelligence.
