Some time ago, scientists discovered that brain size may show, to some extent, the intelligence of a man. But now a new study at Washington University in St. Louis suggests that almost 10% of individual differences in intelligence can be explained by the particular neural pathways connecting the left lateral prefrontal cortex to the rest of the brain.
In other words, connections with a certain part of the prefrontal cortex can predict how an intelligent man. The study provides strong evidence that these neural connections between brain cortex and the rest bring perifrontal side plays a major role in cognitive processes underlying human intelligence.
“The study suggests that being smart can mean lateral prefrontal cortex have done their job well and can communicate effectively with the rest of the brain,” explains study co-author, Todd Braver. A possible explanation for the finding is that lateral prefrontal region is a “communications hub” flexible uses his connections to monitor and influence other brain regions in order to manage them.
While other areas of the brain bring their direct contributions to the cognitive processing, lateral prefrontal cortex helps coordinate and maintain these processes. According to scientists, lateral prefrontal cortex acts as a control system based on feedback, which helps to implement cognitive control with fluid intelligence support role. (Fluid intelligence is a concept in psychology, one of the factors of general intelligence.
It is the ability to think logically and to solve probleme in new situations, independent of previous knowledge.) The discovery was based on an analysis of functional magnetic resonance images obtained in several brain subjects.
Images were made while the subjects were passive, as when they were involved in a number of different mental tasks associated with fluid intelligence. The results indicated that levels of global connectivity of the brain with some lateral prefrontal cortex serve as indicators of fluid intelligence and the cognitive control.
Creators of the study say that the discovery will help scientists better understand human intelligence. It also could provide answers about how the collapse of global connections the brain contributes to cognitive control deficits observed in those suffering from schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.
