Brain Speed vs Intelligence: New Study Challenges Traditional Assumptions
A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the Human Brain Project at Charité University Berlin and their partner at University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona has called into question the long-held belief that intelligence equates to quicker thinking. The findings, published recently in the journal Nature Communications, reveal that individuals with higher fluid intelligence (FI) actually take more time when solving complex problems due to their brain’s synchronized activity, allowing for deeper evidence consideration and problem-solving.
The researchers took a biologically inspired approach to their study, constructing 650 personalized brain network models (BNMs) using data gathered from the Human Connectome Project. These BNMs allowed the team to simulate the processes that the brain undergoes during problem-solving.
To compare the observations from the brain simulations with real-life data, the researchers conducted the Penn Matrix Reasoning Test (PMAT) with the 650 participants. The PMAT consists of a series of pattern-matching tasks that increase in difficulty. The participants’ performance on the test was then used to quantify their fluid intelligence.
Interestingly, the results showed that individuals with higher fluid intelligence took more time to solve the more difficult tasks compared to those with lower fluid intelligence. However, they were quicker when responding to simple questions. This trend was observed both in the simulations and in the empirical data of the participants taking the intelligence tests.
According to Petra Ritter, senior author of the study from Charité University, As synchronization is reduced, decision-making circuits in the brain jump faster to conclusions, while higher synchronization between brain regions allows for better integration of evidence and more robust working memory. In other words, a more synchronized brain may not necessarily be faster, but it is better at solving problems.
The study challenges the idea that intelligence is solely determined by brain speed and suggests that taking more time to consider evidence leads to higher-quality problem-solving. These findings provide new evidence that challenges the commonly held notion about human intelligence.
The researchers used The Virtual Brain (TVB) to simulate the brain’s working memory and decision-making processes. By combining local circuit models of working memory and decision-making with whole-brain level simulation, they were able to gain a better understanding of how brain connectivity and cognitive performance are linked.
While the ultimate goal of the study was not to determine how fast individuals should think, the insights gained from modeling brain dynamics and decision-making could be crucial in the development of bio-inspired tools and robotic applications. The researchers believe that biologically more realistic models may outperform classical artificial intelligence in the future.
This groundbreaking study challenges the traditional assumptions about the relationship between brain speed and intelligence. By debunking the belief that intelligent people think faster, it highlights the importance of considering the brain’s synchronized activity and the deeper evidence consideration it enables for effective problem-solving. As researchers continue to unravel the mysteries of the human brain, new insights like these contribute to our understanding of intelligence and open doors to the development of smarter applications.
