What goes through your mind when you think of an intelligent person? At first glance, you may have thought of traits like quick thinking, great problem solving, and adaptability to adversity.
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However, contrary to popular thinking, a study published in the Scientific Journal Nature Communicationson May 23, shows that smart people take longer to answer complex questions.
Smart people think more
The discovery was made in the laboratories of the Institute of Health Berlin and the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, in collaboration with a team member from Barcelona, from the Pompeu Fabra University.
To conduct the study, a learning algorithm was developed and used to build custom brain network models for 650 Project Human Connectome participants. The study revealed patterns of interest in decision-making.
Participants were shown a series of patterns and asked to identify the rules behind them. In the test, everyone’s IQ was measured using conventional texts.
The researchers noted that those with higher IQ scores were quick to handle simple tasks. However, as the tasks become more complex, they take longer to solve complex problems than individuals with lower IQ scores.
Hasty decisions are not a good sign.
In their findings, the researchers noted that brains less synchronized between different regions were prone to making hasty decisions without waiting for higher brain regions to process the information needed to solve problems.
For individuals with higher intelligence, the brain simulations took longer to get to the solution of complex problems.
That is, as the tests become more difficult, the subjects with greater synaptic synchronization allow the necessary processing to take place, rather than impulsively.
Finally, the study demonstrated that the neural circuits of the frontal lobes of the most synchronized brains were responsible for avoiding making hasty decisions.
