Recent scientific literature suggests a significant correlation between high Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores and high standards of curiosity, potentially attributable to genetic predispositions that influence brain neurobiology. Individuals with high IQ often exhibit an intrinsic need to explore and understand complexities, a phenomenon that can be partially explained by genetic variations that affect neurotransmitters such as dopamine, known for its role in the brain’s reward and motivation circuitry (DeYoung, 2011).
Neuroscientific studies indicate that these predispositions not only increase the ability to focus, but also adapt the brain to sustain prolonged periods of intense concentration, a phenomenon often referred to as “hyperfocus”. This condition allows such individuals to delve deeply into topics of interest, which often results in a modification of activity in brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate gyrus, regions associated with decision-making and emotional regulation (Arnsten , 2009).
Paradoxically, although many individuals with high IQ display traits of extraversion initially, the intensity of engagement in cognitive tasks can lead to more introverted behavior over time. This is consistently observed in longitudinal studies, where neuroplasticity associated with intensive learning and constant exposure to new stimuli can reinforce neuronal circuits that favor introspection over socialization (Kanai et al., 2012).
In neuroanatomical terms, such changes are evidenced by changes in synaptic density and plasticity in areas of the brain responsible for cognitive and emotional processing. These transformations can have decisive implications for the life trajectory of these individuals, often leading to functional isolation, where dedication to projects of an intellectual and complex nature takes priority over social interactions (Beaty et al., 2016).
References:
- ARNSTEN, AFT Stress signaling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, vol. 10, no. 6, p. 410-422, 2009.
- BEATY, RE et al. The neuroscience of creative cognition: a first approximation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, v. 20, no. 2, p. 143-155, 2016.
- DEYOUNG, CG Intelligence and personality. In: Sternberg, RJ, Kaufman, SB (eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 711-737, 2011.
- KANAI, R. et al. Brain structure links loneliness to social perception. Current Biology, vol. 22, no. 20, p. 1975-1979, 2012.
