Cognitive Neuroscience of Intelligence

Cognitive neuroscience is a scientific field of study interested in biological underpinnings of cognition; intelligence is traditionally measured by assessing different cognitive abilities. Although there have been long-standing debates about the exact definition of intelligence, there is a more general consensus of how an intelligence quotient (IQ) is derived. Specifically, IQ comprises various traits that are assessed, giving rise to scores reflecting how an individual acquires skills and utilizes knowledge and then comparing that score to a larger population. The concept of intelligence as measured by IQ also lies on a continuum with a relatively normal distribution. Methods used to address questions about IQ from a neuroscience perspective include, but are not limited to, experimental designs utilizing electrophysiology, genetics, and neuroimaging. All of these paradigms ...