Brain processing speed and intelligence
Posted on December 7, 2007
There seems to be some confusion about what we mean by ‘processing speed’. Even among scientists and others in the field there are a variety of understandings of the concept, spanning from the speed of neuron-to-neuron communication to how quickly one can access stored memories. In this article, neuroscientist Lizzie Buchen explains brain processing speed and why speed of processing is critical to many other cognitive processes and even intelligence.
Some of the key points covered:
- The speed of performing basic cognitive operations is highly correlated with measures of intelligence.
- Processing speed may affect performance on all higher cognitive tasks
- Decreases in processing speed may be the primary factor underlying cognitive changes that arise with age
Although there may not be one single factor underlying “intelligence,” processing speed and efficiency are among the most basic and pervasive components. Other factors, including working memory and executive functions, are also likely to be involved.
Sep 02, 2008
Computer ideas could suggest that being able to work on multiple tasks at once is another way to boost performance and mathematicians for example often speak about working on 4 to 7 things at once as they think. A Brain training Game that increased the number of simultaneous things being done could be very entertaining.
Feb 18, 2009
I want to agree Anatoly that there is a descrepancy (i.e the ability to make a decision or the ability to make a decision fast) in the effectiveness of the IQ tests. See the below paragraph by Anatoly Protopopov on the FAQ article.
Question:
Is it really true that, as you say, LR are more intelligent than HR?
Answer:
I did not assert that so strongly. Especially because the term “intelligence” is not concrete enough. If the degree of intelligence was to be compared with the “Intelligence Quotient” (IQ) which is determined by the famous Isenk test, then you will get quite the opposite picture – LR will demonstrate generally lower (but quite normal) IQ, than HR. But this is not because of lower intelligence, but because of its significantly different structure.
Because IQ test determines not the ability to make a decision, but the speed of making such decisions (the ability to quickly solve simple problems), and the speed of making decisions in general is higher for HR. The slower intellect of LR is, however, able to penetrate the problem deeper, and (given the conditions of intellectual development were normal) is therefore able to solve more complicated problems, but slower. Also we should not forget about low visual RP. Civilised politely altruistic behaviour, which can be a result of simply good upbringing and education (and such people are usually intelligent), is PERCEIVED by surrounding HP citizens as low ranked, even though the actual RP of the individual can be quite high.
Please reply and tell me what your think.
use the link below to read further about the difference between HR and LR humans.
http://www.geocities.com/protopop_1999/faq_tre.html