Oberlin, Ohio
Intelligence has been looked at, discussed and studied
for centuries. Intelligence, its measurements, types and
much more are of great interest to me. This topic appealed
to me because it is so different from what other TDP
students researched. The book, Aha! The Most Interesting
Book You'll Ever Read About Intelligence encouraged my
interest in this topic, and I wanted to incorporate it into
my project. Therefore, up popped intelligence. My original
topic was intelligence measurements but I could do so much
more. That was when my work on intelligence began. I wanted to learn everything about intelligence. Sadly,
my project got too big and I had to eliminate animal and
artificial intelligence from my research. I could not cover
all parts of the topic, so I decided to focus on those of
greatest interest to me. I learned a lot more than I
expected to learn but this didn't come from a stack of
research paper. This came from my mind giving me a different
view on disabilities and how one can be intelligent. This
project really gave me a different view on the world. During the course of my research, I used a lot of
sources. I used many different sources of research including
books, journal and encyclopedia articles, and websites. Some
of the books I read were quite complicated, but others were
easier to understand, such as my favorite source, Aha! There
are entire websites devoted to intelligence. In addition to
learning a lot about intelligence, I learned a lot about how
to do research. To talk about intelligence, there needs to be talk about
the brain. An adult human brain weighs about three pounds
but when we came into our world, our brain weighed about one
pound. We gain two pounds of brain because of neuron
connections. Our brain is divided into lobes, each one doing
a different kind of work. Our brain is also divided into
halves. The left part is supposed to do the logical,
sequential, rational, analytical and objective thinking. It
also looks at parts to get the whole idea. The right
hemisphere does the random, intuitive, holistic,
synthesizing and subjective work. It looks at the whole idea
first, no details. How do we think? The human brain has a lot of neurons.
The approximate number is one hundred billion. An example is
while one is reading a report, the eyes send what is seen on
neuron connections. It goes to the language part of the
brain. Then, the language part of the brain decodes what is
seen. It would take about three thousand, one hundred
seventy-one years to count, non-stop, at a rate of one per
second, all of the neurons in the brain. Then, consider leap
years and the time needed to state those huge numbers. Even
though the brain is sensitive and fragile, there are no pain
receptors. The brain needs 20% of the body's oxygen supply
and the same amount of the energy supply. The brain is a
very important part of intelligence. Intelligence quotient tests have developed quite a bit
over the years. Scores used to rely on a person's CA
(chronological age) and MA (mental age). An IQ was
calculated by dividing the CA by the MA. For example, if a
ten-year-old had the knowledge of a thirteen-year-old, the
equation would be: 1.3 multiplied by 100=130. In 1916, Binet
and Simon, two French psychologists, looked at the accuracy
of the tests and altered them somewhat. The reason they are
called Stanford Binet and not Simon Binet is because they
were brought to the U.S.A. by a psychologist at Stanford
University. They are now called Revised Stanford Binet
Tests. IQ tests were originally used as a way to identify
children struggling in school. They were used as a measure
of general intelligence. There are many types of these
tests. They can focus on verbal ability, spatial skills,
analytical skills and more. IQ scores have been rising
steadily during the last decades. This increase in scores is
referred to as "The Flynn Effect" for James Flynn, the first
person to report on this. Scientists think there are many
reasons why scores have gone up. Some possible reasons are
better standards of living, better schools, new IQ tests
that do not have as much cultural bias, and nutrition. It
may also be affected by more stimulating environments such
as zoos. Children today also have had more experiences with
testing and technological developments. IQ tests are not fair for all people. If there are people
who have been taught in a difference place or way, their
answers would be different. This is called cultural bias.
Bias means one is favoring one side too much. Another
problem is people might think in different ways when
answering reasoning questions. What would one choose to
carry food with? A lunchbox or a large bowl-shaped stone?
This can depend on what you are used to carrying food
with. The average person has an IQ of 100 points. The number
100 was chosen just for simplicity. The highest score
someone can achieve on an IQ test is 200. Scientists argue
about how many points one has to score to be considered a
genius, but generally agree that 135-145 or higher is about
right. Remember, however, IQ tests are not always
accurate. Boys may not like it, but there are a lot of factors
against them when considering intelligence. Women's brains
are smaller but have more area because they have folds.
These folds allow more neurons and synaptic connections to
pack into the brain. Little girls speak earlier than little
boys. Since many early areas of study use language, girls
often outscore boys. On average, girls outperform boys on
the key tests at ages seven, eleven, fourteen, sixteen, and
eighteen. The only things I could find that indicated that
boys were smarter than girls was that, on average, girls
have greater verbal skills while boys have greater
mathematical and spatial skills. These differences may
indicate the need for separate IQ tests for boys and
girls. When one is not the best in spelling, does that mean lack
of intelligence? There are difference types of intelligence.
According to Howard Gardener, these are the seven types: If someone is great at dancing, that person has
body/kinesthetic intelligence. A great pianist would have
musical/rhythmic intelligence. Everybody is intelligent in
their own way. There is one more important kind of intelligence called
emotional intelligence. This is the ability to understand
and control emotions. Jennifer Brice, researcher, says that
higher emotional intelligence in children makes them less
likely to get into fights, less likely to take alcohol,
drugs and the like, and are more social. Psychologist David
B. Caruso has developed an IQ test which assesses emotional
intelligence. Emotional intelligence is just as important as
the other seven types. Mental disabilities are a function or problem with one's
brain. Although some mentally disabled people suffer from a
lack of intelligence, many have skills in highly specific
areas. There is a very interesting group of people with
Savant Syndrome. These individuals may have low general
intelligence, but they can have amazing talents. Math and
music are some of the most popular. Savant Syndrome is one
of the most interesting things you can read about on the
topic of intelligence. Kim Peek is the man who inspired "Rain Man," a famous
movie. Kim was born on November 11, 1951. His head is 30%
larger than he average human head. A brain scan revealed
that one lobe literally exploded. Kim has read about 7,600
books and has probably memorized all of them, even phone
books. Kim may not be able to dress himself , but he is one
of the most interesting people that can be read about. "I don't think anybody could spend five minutes with Kim
and not come away with a slightly altered view of
themselves, the world, and our potential as human beings,"
says Barry Morrow, the man who wrote the screenplay for
"Rain Man." Kim Peek is one of the most intricate people
alive today. His life demonstrates that a low IQ does not
prevent a person from accomplishing amazing things. Education is another important part of intelligence. Many
kids say they "hate" school but a report done in 1997 stated
that 81% of kids think it is "cool" to be smart. The report
also noted that 67% of kids look forward to school compared
with 63% in 1996. 71% of kids aged thirteen through
seventeen plan to go to college compared with 55% in 1996.
Absence from school can cause a drop in IQ scores. School is
highly important to intelligence. Food may also have an impact on intelligence. Scientists
once did an experiment in which they removed artificial
flavor, color, and dye from a school's menu. At the time,
120000 students were performing two or more grades below
average. After the change, the number dropped to 50000.
Coffee, fish, and blueberries are also supposed to be small
brain boosters. Food may not be the most important part of
intelligence but it does have an impact. There is another interesting condition called Williams
Syndrome. This is a very rare congenital condition. Although
afflicted people struggle with writing, math and reading,
they are extremely skilled with spoken language and are
often very sociable. Williams Syndrome is caused by the loss
of a tiny piece of chromosome. Williams Syndrome is another
interesting mental state. One of the people who first comes to mind when we think
of genius is Albert Einstein. He won the Nobel Prize,
convinced others that time is the fourth dimension,
developed the equation E=MC2 and much more. He was born in
Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879. Albert was very quiet in
school until he learned about magnetism, which started him
asking many questions. When he was in high school, his
family moved, leaving him. Considered a slow student who
asked to many questions, Albert was dismissed from school.
He then went with his family to Switzerland and went to
college. After graduation, he got a job with the Patent
Office. He then married Mileva Maric and in 1905 published
his famous theory of relativity. In 1909, he became a
professor. In 1914, he accepted a teaching post in Berlin,
Germany, leaving his wife behind. He divorced and was
remarried to a woman named Elsa. Although he won the Nobel
Prize, Adolph Hitler issued a death warrant for Einstein. He
and Elsa fled Germany and settled in Princeton, New Jersey.
Einstein lived there until his death in 1955. His brain was
studied and was discovered to be 15% wider in one lobe. The
brain also had a strange set of grooves. Einstein is one of
the major figures of the twentieth century. His scientific
genius continues to serve us. There are many fun and interesting facts about
intelligence. It does not always matter how high the IQ
score is but how one's intelligence is used that is most
important. Six-year-old children who take singing or piano
lessons score an average of seven points higher on IQ tests.
Gifted children usually have several of these qualities: The saying that we use only 10% of our brain is NOT TRUE.
We use 100% of our brains. A organization called MENSA is a
society for smart people! There was also a theory called the
Mozart effect. This was when people thought Mozart music
could make you smarter. This is no longer believed. There are a lot of occupations related to intelligence.
One occupation related to my topic is that of
neuroscientist. If one wants to enter that profession, he or
she have to get several educational degrees including
college and graduate school. People who teach this subject
have doctoral degrees in neuroscience. People who diagnose
medical conditions or perform brain surgery must go to
medical school and specialize in neuroscience. Another job
is that of psychologist. A psychologist must also attend
college and graduate school, and he or she must get a
doctorate in psychology. A psychologist can either teach
academic courses or counsel patients with questions
regarding mental and/or social health. There are many other
jobs that have to do with intelligence since intelligence
plays a key role in our lives. Intelligence may have been looked at, discussed and
examined for centuries, but I had much less time. I read
what felt like everything possible about intelligence. If I
had more time, my report would be much longer. I thought
this report was very interesting and highly educational.
Time whizzed by. I feel like I started it only three days
ago, and now I'm at the end. The report was fun to do and I
can not wait for the one I will do next year. Glossary capacity - the ability to see and hold chromatin - a protoplasmic substance in the nucleus of
living cells that readily takes a deep stain see
protoplasmic, nucleus chromosome - any of the microscopic red shaped bodies
formed by the incorporation of chromatin in a cell nucleus
during mitosis and meiosis see mitosis, meiosis, nucleus,
chromatin chronological age - the length of time a person has
lived colloid - a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance made up
of insoluble nondiffusible particles see insoluble concentrated (concentrate) - a substance that has been
concentrated example: a liquid that has been made denser deductive - take away, subtract diffused - spread out or dispersed, not concentrated see
dispersed, concentrated dispersed - to break up and scatter in all directions emotional intelligence - possessing an understanding
self-awareness, altruism, motivation, compassion, and the
ability to love and be loved. induction - a bringing forward of separate facts or
instances inductive - of, or proceeding by methods of logical
induction see induction isoluble - a chemical to separate an element or compound
in pure form from substances in which it is combined or
mixed interpersonal - between people intelligence - the ability to acquire and apply
knowledge intrapersonal - existing or occurring within ones' mind
or self I.Q. - a number determined by tests that measure
learning, memory, judgment, and many more skills kinesthetic - of, or resulting from motion linguistic - of language logical - of, or used in the science of logic mathematical - of, or relating to mathematics meiosis - to make smaller the number of chromosomes mental age - the average age of a child who performs at a
certain level mitosis - indirect and common method of nuclear division
of cells Mozart Effect - a theory, no longer believed, that
listening to classical music will raise intelligence neuroscience - any science dealing with the functions,
abnormalities, etc. of the nervous system and neurons nondiffusible - can't be diffused see diffused nucleus - a group of nerve cells in the brain and spinal
column protoplasmic - a semi fluid, viscous, translucent
colloid, the essential living matter of all animal and plant
cells see viscous, translucent, colloid psychology - the science that deals with the mental
process and behavior Savant Syndrome - a rare condition where people with
developmental disabilities have an island of ability or
brilliance translucent - something where light is able to shine
through verbal - of, in, or by means of words viscous - having a cohesive and sticky fluid
consistency visual - of, connected with, or used in seeing Williams Syndrome - a rare congenital condition caused by
the loss of a tiny piece of chromosome see chromosome Bibliography Neuroscience for Kids. Eric Chudler. 1996-2005
<http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html> Romanek, Trudee. Aha! The Most Interesting Book You'll
Ever Read About Intelligence. Tonawanda: Kids Can Press
Ltd., 2004. Munzert, Kim. Test Your I.Q. New York: Pocket
Books, 2005. Brallier, Jess. Who Was Albert Einstein? New York:
Grosset & Dunlap, 2002. MENSA <http.//mensa.org> World Book Encyclopedia. The Columbia Encyclopedia. 2001 The Savant Syndrome: Islands Of Genius. Darold A.
Treffert. 2005. <http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant/islands.cfm> Cultural Bias in Intelligence Testing. 2004.
<http://www.wilderdom.com/pesonality/intelligenceCulturalBias.html> Ceci, Stephen, IQ Intelligence: "The Surprising Truth
Psychology Today" 34.4(2001) Gifted Children. <http:www.all4kidsuk.com/gifted_children.help.shtml> Measuring Intelligence. <http://librarythinkquest.org/C005704?content_la_intell_measuring.php3> Lenhoff, Howard M., Wang, and, Paul P. "Williams Syndrome
And The Brain". Scientific American 277.6(1997) Bower, Bruce. "Tuning Up Young Minds: Music lessons give
kids a small IQ advantage" Science News
165.25(2004):389. Peek, Fran. The Real Rain Man. Salt Lake City:
Harkness Publishing Consultants, 1996. Right Brain vs. Left Brain <http://www.funderstanding.com/right_left_brain.cfm> "Are Girls Cleverer Than Boys?" Daily Mail 16 December
2004, 54 Female Brains Have More Folds. Mellisa Lee Phillips. 2004
<http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/femcon.html> IQ Test Labs. 1999-2005 <http://intelligencetest.com/trivia/index.htm> "Most Kids Really Do Like To Learn, New Study Finds."
27.4(1998): 7 Kimura, Doreen. "Male Brain Female Brain: the hidden
difference; gender does affect how our brains work - but in
surprising ways." Psychology Today (1985) Science and Nature - Hot Topics 2002 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/intelligence/iq.shtml> Times, The (United Kingdom) 28 April 2004 Multiple Intelligences <http://www.funderstanding.com/mutiple_intelligence.cfm> .
*Verbal/Linguistic - the ability to use words
and language
*Logical/Mathematical - the capacity for inductive and
deductive thinking as well as the use of numbers and
recognition of abstract patterns.
*Visual/Spatial - the ability to visualize objects and
spatial dimensions and to create internal visions and
pictures.
*Body/Kinesthetic - the wisdom of the body and
controlling physical motion
*Musical/Rhythmic - the ability to recognize tonal
patterns and sounds as well as sensitivity to rhythms
*Interpersonal - the capacity for person to person
communications and relationships
*Intrapersonal - the spiritual inner states of
self-reflection and awareness*Never stopped asking questions
*Talked and walked early
*Never needed much sleep
*Wide vocabulary
*Read early
*Takes the main part while playing
*Has a great imagination
*Strong physical and mental energy
*Always is reading
*Pays attention to details
*Loses interest when doing the same thing over and
over
*Lively mind
*Grasps a new idea quickly
*Has a lot of concentration when interested
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