Biological Bases of Intelligence

Metacognitive Skills

Ability to estimate our own knowledge.

Tetris Study by Richard Haier

Study where participants played Tetris for 1 month, showing that those with higher intelligence improved the most and exhibited less brain activity.

Role of Speed in Information Processing

Intelligence may indicate efficient mental processing but there is a negative correlation between intelligence and reaction time.

BUT there is a positive correlation between intelligence and working memory

Working Memory

the small amount of information that can be held in mind and used in the execution of cognitive tasks

Alpha Span Task

Task involving recalling words in alphabetical order to assess information storage and manipulation in working memory.

Location of Intelligence in the Brain

Prefrontal cortex is active during "g-loaded" tasks, along with other important areas like the parietal cortex and visual cortex.

Why is it important to assess intellgience?

IQ tests assess our intelligence and we are not good at assessing our own intelligence

Stanford-Binet IQ Test by Lew Terman

Test established IQ norms for each age level, introducing the concept of mental age and the Intelligence Quotient Equation (IQ).

Deviation IQ

A method comparing an individual's IQ score to the norms of their age group which addresses the issue of IQ scores decreasing with age.

What is Willhelm Stern’s Intelligence Quotient Equation?

IQ = Mental Age/Chronological Age x 100

Eugenics Movement

Movement that misused IQ tests, leading to forced sterilization and discriminatory practices based on intelligence testing.

IQ Testing Today

Most commonly used for adults is the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

Consisted of 15 subtests used to generate five scores

What does the WAIS measure?

1. Overall IQ

2. Verbal Comprehension

3. Perceptual Memory

4. Processing Speed

Culture-Fair IQ Tests

Tests like Raven's Progressive Matrices that rely on abstract reasoning and are not influenced by language, assessing fluid intelligence.