Genetics and intelligence differences: five special findings
King's College London · University of Edinburgh
Abstract
Intelligence is a core construct in differential psychology and behavioural genetics, and should be so in cognitive neuroscience. It is one of the best predictors of important life outcomes such as education, occupation, mental and physical health and illness, and mortality. Intelligence is one of the most heritable behavioural traits. Here, we highlight five genetic findings that are special to intelligence differences and that have important implications for its genetic architecture and for gene-hunting expeditions. (i) The heritability of intelligence increases from about 20% in infancy to perhaps 80% in later adulthood. (ii) Intelligence captures genetic effects on diverse cognitive and learning abilities,…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 52.80
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 129
Authors
2Topics & keywords
- Assortative mating
- Heritability
- Behavioural genetics
- Psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Genetic architecture
- Population
- Intelligence quotient
Funding
- UOUniversity of EdinburghAward: MR/K026992/1
- CFCentre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive EpidemiologyAward: MR/K026992/1
- DFDirectorate for Biological Sciences
- MRMedical Research CouncilAwards: MR/K026992/1, G0901245, G19/2, MR/K026992/1, 295366
- BABiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilAwards: MR/K026992/1, BB/F019394/1