Intelligence - 3

Question 1

What is meant by heritability?

Answer 1

• Statistical concept that describes how much variation of a given trait can be attributed to genetic variation in a population
• Range from zero to 1

Question 2

What is heritability of intelligence in the UK?

Answer 2

• 0.4-0.7
• 40% to 70% of the variability in the trait intelligence in the UK population is due to genetic differences among people.
• remaining variability is due to environmental factors such as nutrition, education income

Question 3

Why would scientists compare intelligence in identical and non-identical twins?

Answer 3

-So see how much of their intelligence is due to heritability

Question 4

What are examples of environmental and social influences on intelligence?

Answer 4

• Childhood nutrition
• Education
• Health and infection
• Socio economic factors
• Exposure to stress in childhood
• Exposure to environmental toxins
• Exposure to certain drugs

Question 5

How can nutrition impact brain development and then subsequently intelligence?

Answer 5

-Malnutrition in pregnancy leads to low birthweight and loss of 4-8 IQ points and cognitive development delay

Question 6

What is stunting?

Answer 6

-Impaired cognitive development delay

Question 7

What is the effect of prolonged malnutrition in childhood?

Answer 7

• During first two years of life, brain grows to 80% of its adult size
• Malnutrition can affect brain growth and subsequently reason, visuospatial functions, language development, IQ and academic development
• Reduction of 15 IQ points

Question 8

What scheme was introduced by the government to help combat under nourishment?

Answer 8

• Free school dinners

- Breakfast

Question 9

What does iron deficiency in pregnancy result in during childhood?

Answer 9

-Children result in fall of 12 IQ points

Question 10

What is the correlation between breast-feeding and IQ?

Answer 10

-women with higher IQs are more likely to breast feed.

Question 11

What is the general correlation between education and IQ?

Answer 11

• The is correlation value of 0.8
• more years of education is associated with higher IQ
• children with higher IQ tend to stay in school longer
• Children who start school late or leave early have lower IQs
• Children’s IQ is decreased during summer holidays

Question 12

What two parental factors are good predictors of childhood intelligence?

Answer 12

• Parental income

- Parental education

Question 13

What factors determine success in school?

Answer 13

• Motivation
• Persistence
• Willing to study
• Interest in school

Question 14

What diseases are low intelligence associated with?

Answer 14

-associated with increased likelihood of some cancers, CVD, respiratory disease, and higher mortality

Question 15

What is infectious disease are primary cause of?

Answer 15

• global variation in human intelligence

- fighting infection decreases Childs IQ, as it requires a lot of energy to maintain immune response

Question 16

What two factors have negative impact on intellectual development?

Answer 16

• Deprivation

- Neglect

Question 17

How does exposure to domestic violence affect school grades, IQ and reading?

Answer 17

• Lower school grades and IQ
• Trauma related stress lead to decrease in IQ by 7.5
• Reading decrement of 9.8 in young children

Question 18

What 3 factors are also said to affect children grades?

Answer 18

• Neighbourhood
• Dangerous environment
• Parenting styles (especially mother and child)

Question 19

Which environmental toxins lead to neuro-developmental disorders and impact on intelligence?

Answer 19

-lead, mercury, toluene, PCB, air pollution

Question 20

How does lead exposure at 24 months affect Intellectual and academic performance and at what age?

Answer 20

-Even slightly elevated lead levels around the age of 24 months are associated with intellectual and academic performance deficits at age 10 years

Question 21

How does air pollution affect performance in tests and memory?

Answer 21

• Affects cognitive performance in verbal and maths tests

- Affects STM

Question 22

What brain disease does air pollution contribute to?

Answer 22

• Brain inflammation
• Parkinsons
• Alzheimers

Question 23

Where could lead be found?

Answer 23

• petrol and paint

- eliminated in 1960 and 200

Question 24

Where can mercury be found and what is its effect?

Answer 24

• Fish

- Reduced IQ

Question 25

What is one of the most preventable causes of intellectual disability?

Answer 25

-Feotal alcohol syndrome caused by exposure to alcohol during pregnancy

Question 26

What is impact of tobacco on IQ?

Answer 26

• no evidence for biological association

- lower IQ is associated with cigarette smoking behaviour

Question 27

How does substance abuse affect IQ?

Answer 27

• detrimental impact on IQ if exposure occurs in utero
• people with higher childhood IQ more likely to take illegal drugs including cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy, ketamine etc by age of 30

Question 28

Which 3 medications can cause birth defects in children and cause low IQ?

Answer 28

-sodium valproate, thalidomide, Benadryl

Question 29

What drugs are also known as smart drugs and name 2 examples

Answer 29

• Nootropics
• Modafinil
• Adderall

Question 30

What is the Flynn effect?

Answer 30

-Substancial and long-term increase in IQ

Question 31

What are 4 reasons in Flynn effect?

Answer 31

• Better health
• Better nutrition
• More and better education
• Rising standards of living