scholarly journals Sex Differences in Variability in General Intelligence: A New Look at the Old Question

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 518-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Johnson ◽  
Andrew Carothers ◽  
Ian J. Deary
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
General Intelligence ◽  
Normal Variation ◽  
Actual Distribution ◽  
Normal Distributions ◽  
Essentially Normal ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
High Level ◽  
Representative Samples

The idea that general intelligence may be more variable in males than in females has a long history. In recent years it has been presented as a reason that there is little, if any, mean sex difference in general intelligence, yet males tend to be overrepresented at both the top and bottom ends of its overall, presumably normal, distribution. Clear analysis of the actual distribution of general intelligence based on large and appropriately population-representative samples is rare, however. Using two population-wide surveys of general intelligence in 11-year-olds in Scotland, we showed that there were substantial departures from normality in the distribution, with less variability in the higher range than in the lower. Despite mean IQ-scale scores of 100, modal scores were about 105. Even above modal level, males showed more variability than females. This is consistent with a model of the population distribution of general intelligence as a mixture of two essentially normal distributions, one reflecting normal variation in general intelligence and one refecting normal variation in effects of genetic and environmental conditions involving mental retardation. Though present at the high end of the distribution, sex differences in variability did not appear to account for sex differences in high-level achievement.

A Role for the X Chromosome in Sex Differences in Variability in General Intelligence?

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 598-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Johnson ◽  
Andrew Carothers ◽  
Ian J. Deary
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Mental Retardation ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Population Variation ◽  
General Intelligence ◽  
Substantial Evidence ◽  
Normal Distributions ◽  
Intellectual Abilities

There is substantial evidence that males are more variable than females in general intelligence. In recent years, researchers have presented this as a reason that, although there is little, if any, mean sex difference in general intelligence, males tend to be overrepresented at both ends of its overall distribution. Part of the explanation could be the presence of genes on the X chromosome related both to syndromal disorders involving mental retardation and to population variation in general intelligence occurring normally. Genes on the X chromosome appear overrepresented among genes with known involvement in mental retardation, which is consistent with a model we developed of the population distribution of general intelligence as a mixture of two normal distributions. Using this model, we explored the expected ratios of males to females at various points in the distribution and estimated the proportion of variance in general intelligence potentially due to genes on the X chromosome. These estimates provide clues to the extent to which biologically based sex differences could be manifested in the environment as sex differences in displayed intellectual abilities. We discuss these observations in the context of sex differences in specific cognitive abilities and evolutionary theories of sexual selection.

scholarly journals Artificial General Intelligence: A New Perspective, with Application to Scientific Discovery

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Khalili
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Scientific Discovery ◽  
General Intelligence ◽  
Discovery Process ◽  
Artificial General Intelligence ◽  
Alternative Perspective ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
High Level ◽  
Open The Doors

The dream of building machines that have human-level intelligence has inspired scientists for decades. Remarkable advances have been made recently; however, we are still far from achieving this goal. In this paper, I propose an alternative perspective on how these machines might be built focusing on the scientific discovery process which represents one of our highest abilities that requires a high level of reasoning and remarkable problem-solving ability. By trying to replicate the procedures followed by many scientists, the basic idea of the proposed approach is to use a set of principles to solve problems and discover new knowledge. These principles are extracted from different historical examples of scientific discoveries. Building machines that fully incorporate these principles in an automated way might open the doors for many advancements.

Assessment of Motives and Orientations

1979 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 555-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. Youniss ◽  
Maurice Lorr ◽  
Edward C. Stefic
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
College Women ◽  
College Men ◽  
Personality Types ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Discriminant Function Analyses

Study aims to test for the hypothesized dimensional structure of a revision and extension of the Orientation and Motivation Inventory (OMI) and to check for sex differences. The 12-scale inventory was administered to 307 high school and college men, and to 184 college women. The intercorrelations among the half scale scores for the men and for the women were separately factor analyzed and rotated. For men, 10 of the factors, and for women, 11 of the factors hypothesized were confirmed. Five second-order dimensions were identified in both men and women. The scores were next applied in discriminant function analyses to differentiate male and female subjects allocated to one of Holland's six personality types. The results provide some support for the validity of the motivational scales.

scholarly journals Null Sex Differences in General Intelligence: Evidence from the WAIS-III

2002 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Colom ◽  
Luis F. García ◽  
Manuel Juan-Espinosa ◽  
Francisco J. Abad
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Sex Difference ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
General Intelligence ◽  
General Ability ◽  
Test Specificity ◽  
The Difference

There is an increasing number of studies claiming that the sex differences in general intelligence are “real.” The empirical evidence is based on the summation of the standardized sex differences in several cognitive batteries. However, the scientific construct of general ability rests on the correlations among test scores, rather than on their summation. The latter (ability in general) is an arbitrary variable, not a scientific construct. General ability is not a function of any particular cognitive test, but a source of variance evidenced by the correlation between several diverse tests, each of which reflects general ability (g) to some extent, but also group factors and test specificity. Because there are important educational, economic, and social consequences of a group difference in general ability, it is especially germane to evaluate the possibility of an average sex difference in its proxy measures, such as IQ. The Spanish standardization of the WAIS-III is analyzed in the present study. The sample was made up of 703 females and 666 males, aged 15-94, drawn as a representative sample of the population in terms of educational level and geographical location. Although a male advantage of 3.6 IQ points is observed, the difference is in “ability in general,” not in “general ability” (g). Given that the main ingredient of the strong association between IQ and a broad range of social correlates is g, and given that there is no sex difference in g, then the average IQ sex-difference favoring males must be attributed to specific group factors and test specificity.

A survey of the potassium concentration in the red blood cells of British breeds of sheep

1957 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
John V. Evans ◽  
M. S. Mounib
Keyword(s):  
Red Blood Cells ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Potassium Concentration ◽  
High Potassium ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Level ◽  
Mean Concentration ◽  
Representative Samples

The concentrations of potassium in the whole blood of representative samples of sixteen British breeds of sheep have been studied.The proportion of sheep with a high level of potassium in the whole blood (high potassium or HK type) was found to differ significantly between breeds. It ranged from 0% in the English Leicester to 73% in the Rough Fell.There were significant differences between breeds in the mean concentration of potassium in the whole blood of both the LK and HK sheep.

Negligible Sex Differences in General Intelligence

Intelligence ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Colom ◽  
Manuel Juan-Espinosa ◽  
Francisco Abad ◽  
Luı́s F Garcı́a
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
General Intelligence

Sex differences in N-acetylaspartate correlates of general intelligence: An 1H-MRS study of normal human brain

NeuroImage ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 965-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rex E. Jung ◽  
Richard J. Haier ◽  
Ronald A. Yeo ◽  
Laura M. Rowland ◽  
Helen Petropoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
General Intelligence ◽  
1H Mrs ◽  
Normal Human Brain ◽  
Normal Human

scholarly journals 218 Swallowing/Communication Screening in Older Adults Attending the Emergency Department and Association with Clinical Frailty Scale Scores

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Orla Boyle ◽  
Louise Kelly ◽  
Maeve Ryan ◽  
Deirdre Brady ◽  
Ruth Wade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Clinical Frailty Scale ◽  
Acute Setting ◽  
Communication Difficulties ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
High Level

Abstract Background Dysphagia, frailty and negative patient outcomes are interlinked1. Changes in communication may result from the ageing process, chronic conditions, and/or neurologic conditions presenting in later years2. However, unlike other cohorts, including stroke, frail older patients are not routinely screened for swallowing/communication difficulties in acute settings. We investigated the proportion of Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) referrals generated for older patients attending our Emergency Department (ED) following use of a swallowing/communication screening tool and their association with Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) scores. Methods A retrospective analysis of data collected over a four week period was completed. Older patients presenting to ED were screened by the interdisciplinary gerontological ED team using a screening tool, including a locally developed swallow/communication screen. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA Version 12. Results Of 176 patients screened (mean age 81.8 years, SD 5.9 years), median CFS score was 5 (IQR 3-6). Thirty-seven percent (66/176) of patients were referred for SLT assessment following initial screen. SLT referrals were more commonly required in patients with a CFS score of ≥4 (46.2% vs. 19.3%, P=0.001) and likelihood of requiring SLT referral increased with greater CFS score (P<0.0001). Conclusion Results suggest that screening for swallowing and communication difficulties in older patients yields a high level of SLT referrals, with a higher frequency of SLT referrals observed with increasing frailty scores. Further research is required to determine the optimum swallowing/communication screening tool in the acute setting. Future research will focus on evaluating outcomes of SLT assessments completed and determining the prevalence of swallowing and/or communication difficulties in this cohort.

Null sex differences in general intelligence among elderly

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 53-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristide Saggino ◽  
Lina Pezzuti ◽  
Marco Tommasi ◽  
Laura Cianci ◽  
Roberto Colom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
General Intelligence

scholarly journals MicroRNA (miRNA) cloning analysis reveals sex differences in miRNA expression profiles between adult mouse testis and ovary

Reproduction ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 136 (6) ◽  
pp. 811-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuya Mishima ◽  
Takami Takizawa ◽  
Shan-Shun Luo ◽  
Osamu Ishibashi ◽  
Yutaka Kawahigashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Small Rna ◽  
Mirna Expression ◽  
Adult Mouse ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Reproductive Organ ◽  
Mouse Testis ◽  
Mrna Targets ◽  
And Gender ◽  
High Level

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding small RNAs that can regulate the expression of complementary mRNA targets. Identifying tissue-specific miRNAs is the first step toward understanding the biological functions of miRNAs, which include the regulation of tissue differentiation and the maintenance of tissue identity. In this study, we performed small RNA library sequencing in adult mouse testis and ovary to reveal their characteristic organ- and gender-specific profiles and to elucidate the characteristics of the miRNAs expressed in the reproductive system. We obtained 10 852 and 11 744 small RNA clones from mouse testis and ovary respectively (greater than 10 000 clones per organ), which included 6630 (159 genes) and 10 192 (154 genes) known miRNAs. A high level of efficiency of miRNA library sequencing was achieved: 61% (6630 miRNA clones/10 852 small RNA clones) and 87% (10 192/11 744) for adult mouse testis and ovary respectively. We obtained characteristic miRNA signatures in testis and ovary; 55 miRNAs were detected highly, exclusively, or predominantly in adult mouse testis and ovary, and discovered two novel miRNAs. Male-biased expression of miRNAs occurred on the X-chromosome. Our data provide important information on sex differences in miRNA expression that should facilitate studies of the reproductive organ-specific roles of miRNAs.

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