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Inside the minds of murderers

A study by Northwestern University researcher Robert Hanlon found that impulsive murderers are more mentally impaired than strategic planners. Nearly all impulsive murderers had a history of alcohol or drug abuse and were intoxicated at the time of the crime.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalCriminal Justice and Behavior·DateJun 27, 2013

Social animals have more social smarts

A study at Duke University found that lemurs in larger social groups exhibit more 'social intelligence' and are more likely to steal food behind a human's back. The research supports the 'social intelligence hypothesis,' suggesting that living in large social networks drove the evolution of complex social cognition in primates.

SourceDuke University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 26, 2013

Motion quotient

A new study found that individuals whose brains are better at automatically suppressing background motion perform better on standard measures of intelligence. The test, which measures the brain's unconscious ability to filter out visual movement, shows a strong correlation with IQ scores.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 23, 2013

Could playing 'boys' games help girls in science and math?

Research suggests that playing traditionally masculine activities can improve girls' performance in subjects requiring spatial ability. Gender-roles play a significant role in shaping individual differences in spatial ability, with both masculine and feminine identification leading to better performance in mental rotation tasks.

SourceSpringer·JournalSex Roles·DateApr 4, 2013

In the genes, but which ones?

A new Harvard study found that nearly every case of hypothesized genetic pathways failed to replicate, indicating intelligence may be tied to many genes and their interactions. The researchers used large data sets to examine a dozen genes and found only one gene associated with intelligence, which had a small effect.

SourceHarvard University·JournalPsychological Science·DateFeb 24, 2012

Technical aptitude: Do women score lower because they just aren't interested?

A new study published in Perspectives on Psychological Science suggests that women's lower scores on technical aptitude tests may be due to biased testing methods rather than a lack of interest. The researcher found that women score lower on technical aptitude at all intelligence levels, while also exhibiting higher levels of general i...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPerspectives on Psychological Science·DateOct 31, 2011

You can count on this: Math ability is inborn

A study by Johns Hopkins University psychologists found that preschool children's math skills are strongly correlated with their innate 'number sense' abilities. The researchers tested 200 four-year-olds on various tasks measuring number sense, mathematical ability, and verbal ability. Their findings indicate that children's precision ...

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalDevelopmental Science·DateAug 8, 2011

IQ scores fail to predict academic performance in children with autism

A study by researchers at the University of Washington found that 90% of high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorders showed discrepancies between their IQ score and performance on standardized tests. These children often have above-average academic abilities, suggesting that traditional IQ scores may not be an accurate pre...

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·DateNov 17, 2010

70-year-olds smarter than they used to be

A new study reveals that 70-year-olds born in 1930 performed better in cognitive tests than their predecessors born in 1901-02. The study attributed the improvement to better pre- and neonatal care, nutrition, education, and access to advanced technology. Despite this, memory problems remained a predictor of dementia risk.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalNeurology·DateOct 22, 2010

Good and bad in the hands of politicians

Researchers found that right-handers favor their dominant hand for positive ideas and non-dominant hand for negative thoughts. Conversely, left-handers use their left hand for positive expressions and right hand for negative ones. These findings suggest people link 'good' with the side of their body they can use most fluently.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 29, 2010

Brain scans may help guide career choice

Researchers used MRI scans to investigate the neurological basis for performance on vocational guidance tests, finding that gray matter correlates differ between broad and narrow test types. This study provides a basis for investigating whether brain scans can provide unique information for vocational choice.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Research Notes·DateJul 21, 2010

Memory problems not the only predictor of later mild cognitive impairment

A study published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society found that lower performance on tests measuring learning and processing speed, as well as symptoms of depression, predicted subsequent cognitive decline in a normal population. The researchers used advanced statistical methodology to analyze multiple varia...

SourceRush University Medical Center·JournalJournal of the International Neuropsychological Society·DateJun 28, 2010

Others may know us better than we know ourselves, study finds

A psychologist's study found that individuals are more accurate in assessing internal traits like anxiety but less so for external traits like intelligence. Friends are better barometers of intellect-related traits, while strangers can spot extroversion. The self has difficulty judging evaluative traits due to perceived stakes.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateFeb 25, 2010

Fit teenage boys are smarter

Research by University of Southern California scientists found a positive association between adolescent fitness and adult cognitive performance. Fit teenage boys scored higher on intelligence tests, logical performance, and mechanical skills, while muscle strength did not have a similar impact.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 7, 2009

'Now you see it, now you don't'

Researchers used computer artificial intelligence to create new types of pictures and test people's brain performance in visual search experiments. They found that the human brain uses a single mechanism to find targets in pictures, with difficulty levels varying from easy to hard.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalVision Research·DateFeb 15, 2009

New method of scoring IQ tests benefits children with intellectual disabilities

Researchers have developed a new system of scoring IQ tests for children with fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder causing intellectual disabilities. The new method provides a more accurate assessment of the long-term learning potential of these children, helping parents and physicians diagnose and treat them more effectively.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalJournal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders·DateDec 15, 2008

Breastfeeding may improve children's intelligence scores

A randomized trial found that exclusively breastfed children scored an average of 7.5 points higher on verbal intelligence tests and 2.9 points higher on non-verbal intelligence tests compared to formula-fed children. Teachers also rated these children significantly higher academically in reading and writing.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateMay 5, 2008

Self-sabotage

A study by Dr. Jason Plaks and Kristin Stecher found that individuals with a fixed view of their abilities become anxious and disoriented upon achieving dramatic success, leading to poor performance, whereas those with a malleable view perform better under similar circumstances.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateNov 22, 2007

The matrix of autism

A recent study published in Psychological Science found that autistic children excel in fluid intelligence tests, such as the Raven's Progressive Matrices, which assess problem-solving skills and abstract thinking. In contrast, they often struggle with language-based IQ tests like the WISC.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateAug 3, 2007

You don't have to be smart to be rich, study finds

A nationwide study by Ohio State University's Jay Zagorsky found that people with below-average intelligence are just as wealthy as those with higher IQ scores. However, high-IQ individuals tend to earn higher incomes but struggle with financial difficulties such as maxed-out credit cards and missed bill payments.

SourceOhio State University·JournalIntelligence·DateApr 24, 2007