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Researchers bust head size-intelligence link

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Scaramouche
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07 Aug 2006, 10:05 am

Quote:
The genes that are thought to have helped humans evolve big brains do not appear to play any role in how intelligent we are, according to a DNA study.

...

Despite the development of technological advances, he says there is no evidence that Homo sapiens have become more intelligent in the last 50,000 years.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200608 ... queensland



eet_1024
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07 Aug 2006, 1:54 pm

Humans probably have been getting dumber over the last 50,000 years.

Theory why no coorelation between genetics, IQ, and brain size was discovered:
Out of the significant majority of the population, the "hardware" required to facilited the most intelligent person is well within the capabilities of the smallest/slowest brain found in the normal population.

It otherwords: the genes don't say how smart you are. They just provide the limit. But no one reaches their limit.

And we know how limited the IQ is.



Xuincherguixe
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08 Aug 2006, 2:02 am

... Err. I thought it was already known that head size has little to do with intelligence?
Mind you that doesn't mean one can't have (more) studies. Important to ask questions.


But I'm not suprised no link was found. If one starts with the extremely vague and poorly defined idea of intelligence, it's not suprising you get poor data. Intelligence is almost certainly made up of many different distinct forces, with many subtle aspects to it.

It's also possible the article over simplified the findings.

Or that this was bad science.



eet_1024
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08 Aug 2006, 2:00 pm

Xuincherguixe wrote:
I thought it was already known


Common knowledge: The illusion that everyone knows the same thing.

Judy Skatssoon wrote:
This backs separate research that has failed to come up with a link between head size and intelligence, except in extreme congenital abnormalities.


Then were looking for a coorelation between different evolutions of genes, head size, and IQ.

Judy Skatssoon wrote:
Dr Luciano says researchers had expected that people with evolved versions of the gene would be smarter and have bigger heads, but were surprised to find this was not the case.