Child Psychology - Intelligence - Biological Factors That Could Affect Intelligence

Question 1

What was the historical indication of intelligence?

Answer 1

The bigger the head size, the bigger the brain and so the more intelligent you are. This suggested that males were more intelligent than women

Question 2

Relating to brain structure, compare the matter in the brains of males and females:

Answer 2

Males have fewer but thicker white matter fibres and females have more white and grey matter in the Broca area

Question 3

Relating to brain structure, compare the neuron efficiency in males and females

Answer 3

Males have more neuron efficiency during spatial tasks, whereas females have more neuron efficiency during language tasks

Question 4

What percentage is our intelligence influenced by genetics?

Answer 4

Found by Van Leeuwen genes contribute between 25-50% of our intelligence.

Question 5

What percentage is out intelligence influenced by the environment?

Answer 5

Found by Deary, it can account for up to 40%

Question 6

Relating to nutrition, how can this influence intelligence?

Answer 6

Premature babies who were bottle fed were found to have high cognitive skills at age 8.
However, it was found that breast milk had no impact on intelligence of full-term babies

Question 7

Relating to diet, how can this influence intelligence?

Answer 7

a child who is taking supplements for poor diet can improve IQ
a child who has a healthy diet and takes supplements cannot improve IQ

Question 8

Relating to breast-feeding, how can this influence intelligence?

Answer 8

The longer a baby is breast-fed, the more impact it has on the child’s intelligence as an adult

Question 9

relating to cannabis smoking during pregnancy, how can this influence intelligence?

Answer 9

first three months: negatively effects verbal reasoning
middle three months: negatively effects memory
last three months: negatively effects overall IQ score