That old myth that the bigger your brain, the more information you can hold…might be true.
Babies with big heads are smarter, and have a higher likelihood of attending post-secondary school, says a new study.
The study, published in the journal of Molecular Psychiatry, made the discovery while undergoing an even larger report on the link between genes, IQ, and health. Sifting through the data of 100,000 Britons, the research study’s scientists found people who had big infant head circumferences were much more likely to get a degree. They also possessed “higher scores on verbal-numerical reasoning” tests.
“Highly significant associations were observed between the cognitive test scores… and many polygenic profile scores, including . . . intracranial volume, infant head circumference and childhood cognitive ability,” the researchers said in their study.
In the study, 17 key genes that affect brain function and people’s physical and mental health, were also identified.
“In addition to there being shared genetic influences between cognitive skills and some physical and mental health states, the study also found that cognitive skills share genetic influences with brain size, body shape and educational attainments,” said Professor Ian Deary of Edinburgh University, who led the study.
The study ended on a cliff hanger, its authors concluding that “with so many findings, it has not been possible fully to discuss their implications”.
But, researcher Saskia Hagenaars added: “The study supports an existing theory which says that those with better overall health are likely to have higher levels of intelligence.”
Sounds like Seth MacFarlane knows something we don’t when it comes to baby head size and brainpower.
