The Genetic and Environmental Relationship Between General and Specific Cognitive Abilities in Twins Age 80 and Older

1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Petrill ◽  
Robert Plomin ◽  
Stig Berg ◽  
Boo Johansson ◽  
Nancy L. Pedersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Speed Of Processing ◽  
Processing Abilities ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Performance Results ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Specific Cognitive Abilities

In the first twin study of the old-old, individuals 80 years old and older, we examined the relationship between general and specific cognitive abilities from a genetic perspective. That is, we examined the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence major group factors of cognitive abilities, independent of general cognitive ability. As part of the OctoTwin project in Sweden, general and specific cognitive abilities were assessed in 52 monozygotic and 65 same-sex dizygotic twin pairs 80 years old and older using a battery of seven tests that assess verbal, spatial, speed-of-processing, and memory performance. Results suggest that genetic effects associated with general cognitive ability (g) account for the correlation between g and verbal, spatial, and speed-of-processing abilities. No genetic influences were found for these specific cognitive abilities separate from g. In contrast, memory ability appears to be more distinct genetically from g than are other cognitive abilities. Comparison with younger samples suggests that cognitive abilities relating to speed of processing may be genetically dedifferentiated in the old-old.

A Quantitative Genetic Analysis of Cognitive Abilities during the Second Half of the Life Span

1992 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 346-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.L. Pedersen ◽  
R. Plomin ◽  
J.R. Nesselroade ◽  
G.E. McClearn
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Identical Twins ◽  
Early Age ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Perceptual Speed ◽  
Twin Design ◽  
Quantitative Genetic ◽  
Specific Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Data

Little is known about the importance of genetic effects on individual differences in cognitive abilities late in life. We present the first report from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (SATSA) for cognitive data, including general cognitive ability and 13 tests of specific cognitive abilities. The adoption/twin design consists of identical twins separated at an early age and reared apart (46 pairs), identical twins reared together (67 pairs), fraternal twins reared apart (100 pairs), and fraternal twins reared together (89 pairs); average age was 65 years. Heritability of general cognitive ability in these twins was much higher (about 80%) than estimates typically found earlier in life (about 50%). Consistent with the literature, heritabilities of specific cognitive abilities were lower than the heritability of general cognitive ability but nonetheless substantial. Average heritabilities for verbal, spatial, perceptual speed, and memory tests were, respectively, 58%, 46%, 58%, and 38%.

scholarly journals Spurious correlations in research on the effects of specific cognitive abilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimmo Sorjonen ◽  
Bo Melin
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Verbal Ability ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Longitudinal Survey ◽  
The Other ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Math Ability ◽  
Specific Cognitive Abilities

Studies on the effect of non-g ability residuals have often employed double adjustment for general cognitive ability (g), as they have calculated the ability residuals adjusting for g and then calculated the effect of the non-g residuals while adjusting for g. The present simulations demonstrate that the double adjustments may result in spurious negative associations between the non-g residual on one cognitive ability, e.g. verbal ability, and variables with a positive association with another ability, e.g. SAT math and math ability. In analyses of the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY97), the negative associations between non-g residuals on verbal and math ability and aptitude test scores on the other ability vanished when not double adjusting for g. This indicates that the observed negative associations may be spurious and not due to differential investment of time and effort in one ability at the expense of the other ability, as suggested in the literature. Researchers of the effects of specific abilities are recommended to validate their findings and interpretations with analyses not double adjusting for g.

Similarity in General Cognitive Ability, Creativity, and Cognitive Style in a Sample of Adolescent Russian Twins

1992 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.L. Grigorenko ◽  
M.C. LaBuda ◽  
A.S. Carter
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Styles ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Fraternal Twin ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Russian Adolescent ◽  
Specific Cognitive Abilities

AbstractData on five tests of general and specific cognitive abilities, cognitive styles, and creativity, obtained from members of 60 identical and 63 fraternal Russian adolescent twin pairs, are presented. All tests are adaptations of standardized instruments widely used outside of the Soviet Union. Identical and fraternal twin correlations for general cognitive ability yielded a lower estimate of heritability (0.29) than generally found in other countries worldwide (0.52) although the twin correlations themselves are fairly comparable to figures from other countries and cultures — 0.83 and 0.69 for Russian identical and fraternal twin pairs, respectively, vs 0.86 and 0.60 for non-Russian identical, and fraternal twin pairs. Twin correlations for other cognitive-related abilities assessed were also comparable to correlations obtained outside the Soviet Union with the exception of creativity which yielded higher within-pair resemblance than reported in previous twin studies.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Phytoestrogens and the Relationship with Speed of Processing in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES, 1999–2002

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alwerdt ◽  
Patterson ◽  
Sliwinski
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Speed Of Processing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Performance Results ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
The Relationship

Sex hormone changes in adults are known to play a part in aging, including cognitive aging. Dietary intake of phytoestrogens can mimic estrogenic effects on brain function. Since sex hormones differ between genders, it is important to examine gender differences in the phytoestrogen–cognition association. Therefore, the goal of this study is to examine the relationship between urinary phytoestrogens and speed of processing (SOP) and the variation of the association between genders in older adults. Participants were drawn from the 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and included 354 individuals aged 65–85 years old. General linear models (GLMs) were used to test for significant gender differences in the relationship between phytoestrogens and SOP. Results from the GLMs showed significant gender differences in the relationship between genistein and SOP. Higher levels of genistein were associated with better SOP in women. This relationship was reversed in men: higher genistein levels were associated with worse performance. Results indicate that there are distinct gender differences in the relationship between genistein and SOP. These results emphasize the importance of considering gender differences when devising dietary and pharmacologic interventions that target phytoestrogens to improve brain health.

What Is IQ? Life Beyond “General Intelligence”

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristof Kovacs ◽  
Andrew R. A. Conway
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Latent Trait ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
General Intelligence ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Standard View ◽  
Different Content ◽  
Recent Account

For more than a century, the standard view in the field of human intelligence has been that there is a “general intelligence” that permeates all human cognitive activity. This general cognitive ability is supposed to explain the positive manifold, the finding that intelligence tests with different content all correlate. Yet there is a lack of consensus regarding the psychological or neural basis of such an ability. A recent account, process-overlap theory, explains the positive manifold without proposing general intelligence. As a consequence of the theory, IQ is redefined as an emergent formative construct rather than a reflective latent trait. This implies that IQ should be interpreted as an index of specific cognitive abilities rather than the reflection of an underlying general cognitive ability.

The relationship between hand preference, hand performance, and general cognitive ability

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL E.R. NICHOLLS ◽  
HEIDI L. CHAPMAN ◽  
TOBIAS LOETSCHER ◽  
GINA M. GRIMSHAW
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Hand Preference ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Preference Data ◽  
Hand Performance ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe idea that handedness indicates something about a person’s cognitive ability and personality is a perennial issue. A variety of models have been put forward to explain this relationship and predict a range of outcomes from higher levels of cognitive ability in left-handers or moderate right-handers to lower levels of achievement in left- or mixed-handers. We tested these models using a sample (n = 895) drawn from the BRAINnet database (www.brainnet.net). Participants completed a general cognitive ability (GCA) scale and a test of hand preference/performance. Moderate right-handers, as indexed by their performance measures, had higher GCA scores compared with strong left- or right-handers. The performance measure also showed lower levels of GCA for left-handers compared with right-handers. The hand preference data showed little or no association with cognitive ability—perhaps because this measure clusters individuals toward the extremes of the handedness distribution. While adding support to Annett’s heterozygous advantage model, which predicts a cognitive disadvantage for strong left- or right-handers, the data also confirm recent research showing a GCA disadvantage for left-handers. Although this study demonstrates that handedness is related to cognitive ability, the effects are subtle and might only be identified in large-scale studies with sensitive measures of hand performance. (JINS, 2010, 16, 585–592.)

Relative Roles of Cognitive Ability and Practical Intelligence in the Prediction of Success

2001 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 931-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon E. Taub ◽  
B. Grant Hayes ◽  
Walter R. Cunningham ◽  
Stephen A. Sivo
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
General Factor ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Practical Intelligence ◽  
Academic Psychology ◽  
Predictor Of Success ◽  
The Relationship

Initial investigations into the construct of practical intelligence have identified a new general factor of practical intelligence ( gp), which is believed to be independent of general cognitive ability. This construct, gp, is also believed to be a better predictor of success than cognitive ability, personality, or any combination of variables independent of gp. The existence of this construct and its independence from Spearman's g is, however, under debate. The purpose of the present study is to investigate both the relationship between gp and g and the relative roles of practical intelligence and cognitive ability in the prediction of success. The participants included 197 college students. Each completed both the Multidimensional Aptitude Battery and Sternberg and Wagner's measure of practical intelligence in academic psychology. The results of structural equation modeling support Sternberg and Wagner's assertion that practical intelligence and general cognitive ability are relatively independent constructs. Results of regression analysis, however, do not support their contention that practical intelligence is related to success after controlling for general cognitive ability. Implications of these results for research and theory on practical intelligence are discussed.

scholarly journals Brain structure and cognitive ability in healthy aging: a review on longitudinal correlated change

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Oschwald ◽  
Sabrina Guye ◽  
Franziskus Liem ◽  
Philippe Rast ◽  
Sherry Willis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Medial Temporal Lobe ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Memory Processing ◽  
Theory Of Aging ◽  
Specific Cognitive Abilities

Abstract Little is still known about the neuroanatomical substrates related to changes in specific cognitive abilities in the course of healthy aging, and the existing evidence is predominantly based on cross-sectional studies. However, to understand the intricate dynamics between developmental changes in brain structure and changes in cognitive ability, longitudinal studies are needed. In the present article, we review the current longitudinal evidence on correlated changes between magnetic resonance imaging-derived measures of brain structure (e.g. gray matter/white matter volume, cortical thickness), and laboratory-based measures of fluid cognitive ability (e.g. intelligence, memory, processing speed) in healthy older adults. To theoretically embed the discussion, we refer to the revised Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition. We found 31 eligible articles, with sample sizes ranging from n = 25 to n = 731 (median n = 104), and participant age ranging from 19 to 103. Several of these studies report positive correlated changes for specific regions and specific cognitive abilities (e.g. between structures of the medial temporal lobe and episodic memory). However, the number of studies presenting converging evidence is small, and the large methodological variability between studies precludes general conclusions. Methodological and theoretical limitations are discussed. Clearly, more empirical evidence is needed to advance the field. Therefore, we provide guidance for future researchers by presenting ideas to stimulate theory and methods for development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document