Human Intelligence

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at studies that show that human intelligence is indeed correlated to the development and anatomical structure of the brain. The paper discusses theories of human intelligence, including Piaget's stages of cognitive development, Spearman's law of diminishing returns, Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence and Gardner's multiple intelligences theory. The paper then looks at the factors affecting human intelligence, specifically vision and hearing. The paper concludes that the endless debate of whether intelligence is an innate, inheritable trait, or a result of one's environment cannot be answered with absolute exclusivity.


Outline:
The Anatomy of Human Intelligence
Theories of Human Intelligence
Factors Affecting Human Intelligence

From the Paper:

"Recent studies have provided evidence that human intelligence is indeed correlated to the development and anatomical structure of the brain. The improvement of neuroimaging techniques has demonstrated the relationship of intelligence quotients (IQ) and total brain volumes. These studies have shown activities in the frontal, temporal, and occipital cortices among test subjects. Intelligence is found to engage multiple areas of the brain, instead of just having one intelligence center (Than, 2007). The differences in development among children ages 6 and 19 also demonstrated a difference in their IQ. Those with highest IQs were found to first have relatively thin cortices, which rapidly thickens before reaching a peak, and then rapidly thins (Vedantam, 2006)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• About Intelligence. (2008). Why are humans more intelligent than animals? [Online.] Retrieved 15 July 2008 from the Web site: http://www.aboutintelligence.co.uk/why-humans-more-intelligent-animals.html
• Davis, L. E., King, M. K., and Schultz. (2005). Fundamentals of Neurologic Disease. Desmos Medical Publishing.
• Haier, R. J., Jung, R. E., Yeo, R. A., Head, K., and Alkire, M. T. (2005). "The neuroanatomy of general intelligence: sex matters." NeuroImage, 25: 320-237.
• Heyl, V., and Wahl, H. (1 April 2003). "Connections between vision, hearing, and cognitive function in old age." Generations. [Online.] Retrieved 14 July 2008 from the Web site: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-372812151.html
• Huitt, W. (2002). "Intelligence." Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. [Online.] Retrieved 15 July 2008 from the Web site: http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/cogsys/intell.html

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