The neuroscience of human intelligence differences.
Neuroscience is contributing to an understanding of the biological bases of human intelligence differences. This work is principally being conducted along two empirical fronts: genetics--quantitative and molecular--and brain imaging. Quantitative genetic studies have established that there are additive genetic contributions to different aspects of cognitive ability--especially general intelligence--and how they change through the lifespan. Molecular genetic studies have yet to identify reliably reproducible contributions from individual genes. Structural and functional brain-imaging studies have identified differences in brain pathways, especially parieto-frontal pathways, that contribute to intelligence differences. There is also evidence that brain efficiency correlates positively with intelligence.
Deary
Ian J
IJ
Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. i.deary@ed.ac.uk
Penke
Lars
L
Johnson
Wendy
W
D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007360:Intelligence / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology*