The Effect Of Larger Brain Size Predicts Greater Intelligence

Stephen Jay Gould, a paleontologist and evolutionary scientist, in his essay “Women’s Brains” (1980), argues that previous claims about the intellectual superiority of men over women are based on misinterpreted experimental results and therefore hold no scientific significance.

In today’s modern world, recent scientific research has been conducted, which reveals that world-wide IQ test scores have risen, and continue to rise every year. In Alison Gopnik’s article, “Smarter Every Year? Mystery of the Rising IQs,” she discussed how these recent scientific discoveries relate to our society throughout the last century. It is evident that in our society a person’s level of intelligence is extremely important in our culture which is obsessed with being knowledgable. In her article, Gopnik addresses the historical evidence that supports the conclusion that people are getting smarter as the years go on because of today’s society. Gopnik effectively explains the fact that people’s IQs are rising every year, by using the results

Gender differences have been recorded by researches from single neurons in the cell to system level processes (Cahill 2006), and certain scientists proposed that sex hormones influence the development of prefrontal cortex, and this is supposed to be the cause of the differences in working memory performance (Duff & Hampson, 2001). This study further investigated the existence and nature of this gender difference. A sample of 497 Monash University psychology undergraduates (385 females and 112 males; ages 18 – 64) were recruited for this study. Working memory performance was tested with online 'spatial working memory ' test, and 2D:4D finger length ratio was used as an indirect measure of sex hormone levels. The results revealed no sex differences in the working memory performance, but variance in 2D:4D ratio – females had a larger ratio than males. Memory reaction time was negatively correlated with 2D:4D ratio, thus, females had a quicker reaction time.

Bibliography Brainmetrix.com. “Intelligence definition.” Brain Metrix. 2007. Web. 14 Jan. 2016. Breyer, Melissa, and 25 p. Which of the 8 kinds of intelligence do you have? MNN - Mother Nature Network, 13 Jan. 2016. Web. 13 Jan. 2016. Gariépy, Jean-François. What is intelligence ? 31 Dec. 2012. Web. 14 Jan. 2016. “Human intelligence | psychology.” Encyclopædia Britannica. N.p.: Encyclopædia Britannica, 7 May 2015. Web. 14 Jan. 2016. Inc, Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster’s School Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam Webster,U.S., 9 Apr. 2015. Print. Kaufman, Scott Barry. What do IQ tests test? Interview with psychologist W. Joel Schneider. Scientific American Blog Network, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016. Mann, Denise. “Does IQ test really measure intelligence?” WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016. McLennan community college university. “What is intelligence.ppt.” Mccu.org. n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2016. Miller, Max, et al. What is intelligence? Big Think, 2 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 Jan. 2016. Muehlhauser, Luke. “What is intelligence? - machine intelligence research institute.” Analysis. Machine Intelligence Research Institute, 19 June 2013. Web. 14 Jan. 2016. “The Difference Between Intelligence and Common Sense.” Quora. 20 Jan. 2015. Web. 20 Jan. 2016. “The Three types of intelligence you need for success.” Psychology Today, 7 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 Jan. 2016. Citations, Quotes & Annotations Brainmetrix.com. “Intelligence definition.” Brain Metrix. 2007. Web. 14 Jan. 2016. (Brainmetrix.com) "While

This paper discusses the pros and cons of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III). First, important definitional, theoretical issues, including the nature of intelligence, a brief history, and pros and cons are discussed. Next, the development, reliability, validity, and assets and limitations of the WAIS-III are examined. This is followed by discussion of the meaning of IQ scores, use of successive level interpretation and cautions and guidelines for administration. Last, subtests, assessing special population groups, short forms, profile forms, and what a

The issue of race and intelligence became prominent in the United States in the late 1960s (Rose 786). While some may argue that race correlates with the intelligence of a person, this paper will show that this is not the case and there are other factors that may determine one's intelligence. The measure of intelligence has many influences such as environment, social economics, biased standardized test, stereotypes, and genetics. These factors will be examined throughout this paper along with providing insight on how standardized tests may be biased toward different races.

Differences have been observed in mean IQ levels for racial/ethnic groups, as measured by intelligence tests

Another study to study SES and cognitive development was done by Merete Osler1, Kirsten Avlund, and Erik Lykke Mortensen to examine the influence of social circumstances early in life on changes in cognitive function from young adulthood to middle age (2012). They looked at the impact of birth characteristics like birth weight and maternal age, childhood activities in leisure time, education and adult social class on the expected relationship. A sample of 11 532 men aged 12, 18, and 57 were assessed. To find the association of early-life characteristics with cognitive test scores, a linear regression was used. They found that the scores at age 57 years highly correlated with the scores at ages 12 and 18 years. Participants who had a father in the working class at birth were related to having lower cognitive function at all three ages. It was also found that a decline in cognitive function was present with low education, many social activities and minimum intellectual activities during childhood in leisure time and low adult social class.

A British Researcher named Adrian Furnham who is also a professor in psychology. He works in the University of College London, where they study intelligence in different formats, such as studying how gender and intelligents is stereotyped and whether it is true or not.. In an interview with Newsweek's Joan Raymond reveals that men are not of necessity more intellectual than female. Lots of people without doubt believe that they are smarter than females, especially when it comes to testing, such as the IQ test.

There is currently no proof that those with a larger brain are smarter than lose with a smaller brain.

The nineteenth century saw the start of the scientific debate in which brain size was presumed to indicate intelligence. Which in turn lead some scientists to the conclusion that men, having on average a larger brain size than women, may be more intelligent.

There are a slew of tests that attempt to measure how intelligent human beings are. They all measure different aspects and those factors will be covered here. One of the misconceptions is that the tests measure inborn intelligence. Few of the activities are designed for that purpose. They actually measure a person’s interaction with the environment and what they have learned from that interaction. The most common tested aspect is critical thinking. Instead of straightforward questions, intelligence tests offer questions with a twist. It is assumed that the most intelligent people will see obvious flaws in the obvious answers (Steinberg & Williams, 2015). Some intelligence tests also measure reflexes, both mental and physical. The assumption is quick reaction times reflect an active brain and in the line of thinking, a more intelligent person.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) is a psychological test administered individually as a measure of cognitive ability for people in the age range of 16 to 90 years of age (Climie & Rostad, pp. 581-586, 2011). The administration of this assessment may be performed by trained technicians, however, the Administration and Scoring Manual states that it is imperative that all interpretation should be done by professionals to which have adequate training in and experience with standardized clinical instruments (Wechsler, 2008). The WAIS-IV was published by Pearson in 2008, and was meant to provide comprehensive and modified developmental norms, improve psychometric properties and clinical usefulness, and improve the easiness

Furthermore, studies have found there is a genetic link to verbal abilities (which is also correlated with verbal intelligence). In one study it was concluded that the genetic influences on verbal intelligence become more significant over one’s lifetime in explaining differences between individuals, whereas environmental factors decrease (Hoekstra, Bartels, van Leeuwen, Boomsma, 2009). Additionally, twin and adoption studies on verbal memory and fluency in early childhood (as well as adulthood) show that there are “moderate to strong” genetic influences (Hoekstra, Bartels, van Leeuwen, Boomsma, 2009).

Mental ability can be defined as having the cognitive ability to acquire and preserve knowledge. The prospect of mental abilities being associated to longevity has been an area of interest for social scientists. Scottish Mental Surveys (SMS) of 1932 and 1947 carried a major research on intelligence-longevity association. This essay will demonstrate how different studies have supported the association using the four mechanisms proposed in the Scottish Mental Surveys: (a) bodily insults, (b) bodily system integrity, (c) predictor of healthy behaviour, and (d) predictor of safer environment. (Deary, Whiteman, Starr, Whalley, & Fox, 2004) Additional research will be applied to analyse the effectiveness of the causal mechanisms for the relationship between intelligence and longevity, and highlight on limitations in research that may falsify the relationship. Finally, the essay will conclude on whether evidence provided from different mechanisms is explicit enough to support the association, and provide suggestions on how the scope of enquiry can be broadened.