|
intelligence
psychology
Intelligence and Head Size
I have had multiple assert to me that the notion that head size correlates with IQ is pseudoscience.
It is not.
As far as I can tell, the popular belief that this correlation is pseudoscience comes from its superficial similarity with phrenology. Now Phrenology is, indeed, a pseudoscience Phrenology, but that's hardly proof that no correlation exists between brain size and IQ.
As proof to the haters, here is a brief collection of evidence demonstrating the association:
- r~0.33 between brain volume and intelligence McDaniel
- r~0.24 between brain volume and IQ Pietschnig.
- r~0.40 after adjusting for body size Jensen.
- r~0.47 between head circumference and IQ Ivanovic
Wikipedia contributors. (2021, March 3). Phrenology. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:31, March 15, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phrenology&oldid=1010067505
McDaniel, M. A. (2005). Big-brained people are smarter: A meta-analysis of the relationship between in vivo brain volume and intelligence. Intelligence, 33(4), 337-346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2004.11.005
Pietschnig, J., Penke, L., Wicherts, J. M., Zeiler, M., & Voracek, M. (2015). Meta-analysis of associations between human brain volume and intelligence differences: How strong are they and what do they mean?. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 57, 411-432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.09.017
Ivanovic, D. M., Leiva, B. P., Pérez, H. T., Olivares, M. G., Dı́az, N. S., Urrutia, M. S. C., ... & Larraın, C. G. (2004). Head size and intelligence, learning, nutritional status and brain development: head, IQ, learning, nutrition and brain. Neuropsychologia, 42(8), 1118-1131.
Jensen, A.R. (1998). The g factor: The science of mental ability. Westport, CT: Praeger. https://isbn.nu/0-275-96103-6
|