#cognitive ability

Abstract

This cross-national study investigates how psychopathy, narcissism, and fear of missing out (FoMO) influence online political participation, and how cognitive ability moderates these associations. Drawing on data from the United States and seven Asian countries, the findings reveal that individuals high in psychopathy and FoMO are consistently more likely to engage in online political activity. While narcissism is also linked to participation, this relationship emerges in only three of the eight countries. Conversely, higher cognitive ability is uniformly associated with lower levels of online political participation. Notably, the relationship between psychopathy and participation is stronger among individuals with lower cognitive ability in five countries, suggesting that those with both high psychopathy and low cognitive ability are the most actively involved in online political engagement. These findings underscore the nuanced interaction between dark personality traits, FoMO, and cognitive functioning in shaping digital political engagement across diverse socio-political contexts.

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Highlights

Specific cognitive abilities (SCA) are 56% heritable, similar to g.

Some SCA are significantly more heritable than others, 39% to 64%.

Independent of g (‘SCA.g’), SCA remain substantially heritable (∼50%).

SCA do not show the dramatic developmental increase in heritability seen for g.

Genomic research on SCA.g is needed to create profiles of strengths and weaknesses.

Abstract

Most research on individual differences in performance on tests of cognitive ability focuses on general cognitive ability (g), the highest level in the three-level Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) hierarchical model of intelligence. About 50% of the variance of g is due to inherited DNA differences (heritability) which increases across development. Much less is known about the genetics of the middle level of the CHC model, which includes 16 broad factors such as fluid reasoning, processing speed, and quantitative knowledge. We provide a meta-analytic review of 747,567 monozygotic-dizygotic twin comparisons from 77 publications for these middle-level factors, which we refer to as specific cognitive abilities (SCA), even though these factors are not independent of g. Twin comparisons were available for 11 of the 16 CHC domains. The average heritability across all SCA is 56%, similar to that of g. However, there is substantial differential heritability across SCA and SCA do not show the developmental increase in heritability seen for g. We also investigated SCA independent of g (SCA.g). A surprising finding is that SCA.g remain substantially heritable (53% on average), even though 25% of the variance of SCA that covaries with g has been removed. Our review highlights the need for more research on SCA and especially on SCA.g. Despite limitations of SCA research, our review frames expectations for genomic research that will use polygenic scores to predict SCA and SCA.g. Genome-wide association studies of SCA.g are needed to create polygenic scores that can predict SCA profiles of cognitive abilities and disabilities independent of g.

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Forget the term bird brain, many bird species are actually famous for their intelligence. And while parrots and corvids get all the credit, another group of birds is joining the ranks. The Oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) is fascinating not just for its extraordinary mating and reproductive behaviors, but it's also impressed scientists with its ability to understand object permanence. Object permanence is the idea that an object still exists even when you can’t see it. In human children, there are six developmental stages that can test their understanding. Previously, other non parrot or corvid bird species have made it to stage four, but hornbills are the only other birds that have made it to stage six. The idea that the birds would have a good understanding of object permanence occurs because, during the hornbills' breeding stage, the female will seal herself inside the hollow cavity of a tree to lay her eggs. The male will bring food to her and their chicks even though he has never seen them as they remain sealed inside the tree with the female.

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Scientists at The University of Texas at Dallas Center for Vital Longevity (CVL) have published new evidence that shows changes in brain network patterns that occur in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease differ from those associated with normal aging. Alzheimer’s disease and aging are associated with distinct patterns of brain network disruption. Alzheimer’s (left) exerts widespread impacts on brain…

The well-replicated associations between cognitive ability and body mass index (BMI) may largely reflect confounding by other factors related to family background, according to a new study published April 13thin the open access journal PLOS Medicine by Liam Wright of University College London, UK, and colleagues. Photo by Andres Ayrton on Pexels.com Obesity is a major contributor to the global…