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Whether it is genetics or environment that plays a role in determining intelligence has always remained an important question.
This is a controversial topic in the history of psychology, and to date, new studies have come up trying to understand the relationship between genetics, environment, and human Intelligence Quotient (IQ).
Many such studies conclude that a significant part of human intelligence is genetically influenced.
However, the same studies suggest that the environment may still play a role in molding the genetic trait.
One of the earliest studies that attempted to understand genetic influences on IQ was the twin studies by professor Sir Cyril Burt.
His studies, published between 1943 and 1966, concluded that genetics might significantly influence IQ levels.
Other recent studies claim that the heritability of intelligence could be as high as 0.8 (on a scale of 0.0 to 1.0).
Some of these studies examined the IQ scores of monozygotic (identical) twins and dizygotic (fraternal) twins.
Monozygotic twins share 100% of their genetic material, while dizygotic twins may share an average of 50% of their genetic material.
These studies reported that the IQ scores of monozygotic twins are more similar than that of dizygotic twins.
In a household with biological and adopted siblings, the IQ levels of biological siblings may be more similar to that of adopted siblings.
This also points to the fact that genetics may play a more prominent role in influencing IQ levels.
There is no single gene that controls intelligence levels. Instead, a person’s intelligence may depend on interactions between multiple genes.
A UK-based study analyzed the DNA variants from more than 240,000 people and reported that up to 538 genes might be associated with intelligence.
That is why intelligence is called a polygenic trait.
Studies ascertain that 30-75% of variations in people’s IQ levels could be genetically driven.
However, environmental influences may help or prevent a person from achieving the genetic potential of IQ levels.
Socioeconomic status refers to the family or individual’s access to economic resources like money and their position in society.
According to experts, poverty or lack of financial stability may prevent a child from reaching their full genetic potential of intelligence.
A research paper analyzed the IQ levels of children from different SESs.
According to the results, children of the highest and lowest SES backgrounds were, on average, separated by 6 IQ points at the age of 2 years.
Further, by the age of 16, the IQ gap had almost tripled.
Lack of nutrition affects IQ levels, especially in the initial few years of a child’s life. According to a study, malnutrition between the ages of 1 and 5 may reduce IQ levels by up to 15 points.
Cognitive stimulation includes a variety of experiences the child has at home. Here are some cognitive influences affecting IQ levels.
A study states that educational duration and IQ levels could be closely related.
According to it, intelligence increases by 1 to 5 IQ points for every additional year of education.
A significant part of a person’s intelligence is inherited by birth.
30-75% of variations in IQ levels could be due to genes, and multiple genes play a role in determining the intelligence potential of the individual.
However, environmental factors may influence how much of the genetic potential the person achieves during the lifetime.
For instance, a child could be born with high intelligence. However, environmental factors like low SES, malnutrition, or lack of right education may affect the child’s IQ.
For a person to have high IQ levels, genetics and the environment must be favorable.
The anxiety or anticipation of fear may make one more sensitive to pain, and this phenomenon is common in people with chronic pain.
Fear sets off a fight or flight mode in the brain.
When we are under fear, the body transfers its healing abilities to fight the possible danger.
In this situation, it is natural for us to become hypervigilant, and we begin perceiving even the slightest sensations more intently.
Each of us responds to pain differently.
Fear and anxiety about pain may influence an individual’s variation in how much they feel pain.
Most people develop a negative feedback loop around pain based on what they hear, see, or experience.
The brain starts storing these stimuli as long-term memory, called fear conditioning.
These stimuli, such as smell, sound, weather, or images, act as triggers, and the individual begins to react to them negatively.
Depending upon the grade or severity of fear, people may experience a rise in blood pressure, tense feelings in the body, etc.
Fear activates a part of the brain called the amygdala.
The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions and triggers the ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ response.
Constant worry and anxiety affect the individual’s cognition and emotions.
In a way, fear takes over the brain’s functioning, and we are mentally or physically hostages of this fear.
Image: Parts of the brain involved in fear response
Inspired from https://science.howstuffworks.com/
Though fear originates and is primarily influenced by the brain, your genes may also have a role to play in it.
Many specific genes, interactions between genes and environment, and biological pathways have been associated with pathological fear and anxiety disorders.
A study conducted to understand the fear of dental pain showed that while dental fear was 30% heritable, the fear of pain was 34% heritable.
A GWAS (genome-wide association study) was carried out in 2017 that included 990 individuals to dig more into the heritability and genetics of fear of pain.
This study aimed to identify the genes that could potentially drive the heritability of fear of pain.
The study reported 3 genome-wide significant genetic regions (loci) regulating fear of minor pain.
Numerous other genetic associations were observed for general fear of pain, fear of severe pain, and fear of medical/dental pain.
The researchers identified the following genes near the genetic loci associated with fear of pain:
The transmembrane protein 65 (TMEM65) gene was particularly interesting as it was associated with musculoskeletal pain in humans (pain due to muscle or bone injury).
This gene is also implicated in abnormal pain threshold and predisposition to neuropathic pain in rats.
Neuropathic pain can happen if your nervous system is damaged or not working correctly.
The NEFM and NEFL genes are also of interest since they regulate neuronal functioning, especially motor neurons.
Motor neurons are a type of brain cell located within the spinal cord and the brain.
They’re involved in transmitting pain signals.
Hence, these two genes may be related to the pain experience.
The study concluded that even though there were several associations observed for general fear of pain and fear of severe pain, the associations observed for fear of minor pain had stronger statistical evidence.
The fear of pain is a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
There is no way to prevent fear of pain.
People with a greater fear of pain must find ways to alleviate this fear to live normal, productive lives.
Yoga, meditation, breathing techniques, visualization, and mindfulness activities are great examples of simple exercises you can do from the comfort of your home.
For people who require professional help for their pain-related fear, cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and physical exercises may be helpful.
Exercise and fitness activities release serotonin and other chemicals in the brain that improve your mood and enable you to manage pain effectively.
With the right treatments, most people can manage their fear of pain.
Almost every other day, we come across drivers who just cannot seem to pick a lane.
Or motorists who love to erratically cut us off without using turn signals, leaving us all wondering, “who in the world taught them how to drive!”
However, for some, driving comes naturally. They can parallel park with ease and change lanes without a second thought.
So, what explains this difference? Are driving skills genetic?
Well, it turns out that some people are just born drivers, and it’s their genes that need to be blamed!
Like most other traits, driving too is heavily influenced by your surroundings.
Firstly, it depends on your training as a driver - whether you were trained in a good motor training school by a skilled driving teacher.
To become a good driver, you not only need to acquire a certain skill set but also practice them to gain perfection.
Films and movies are also a big influence on young people.
Rash and reckless driving are often promoted in films, and safe driving is considered uncool.
Young people who mimic actors and follow their styles and behaviors on screen are often influenced by this.
A history of road accidents can also affect your driving style.
It may induce fear and apprehension during driving in some people.
This can affect their ability to make quick decisions and hamper their judgments.
While such external factors impact your driving skills to an extent, certain
The BDNF gene contains instructions for producing a protein found in the brain and spinal cord called the brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
This protein is critical for the growth and differentiation of brain cells.
BDNF also supports a person's memory by regulating communication between brain cells and keeping them in peak shape.
When driving, BDNF is secreted in the particular brain region involved in support activities surrounding driving.
If the BDNF gene has any errors, then BDNF protein secretion may be lower.
Thus, your brain may not be able to support the activity you’re involved in at its best.
If this happens in the area that controls driving, you may not be able to remember information regarding driving well and thus may drive poorly.
According to this study, led by Dr. Cramer, a neurology professor at the University of California Irvine, those with a common genetic change scored 20 percent worse in a driving simulator than their counterparts.
The study included 29 subjects who were tested in a driving simulator.
With the simulator, the subjects had to steer the car centered along a black line with their hands in the 10-2 position.
They had to steer to turn the car before the screen actually changed.
The tests were conducted over the course of 15 laps, during which all subjects showed improvement in their driving.
The T allele variant, also known as the Val66Met, causes a lower production of the BDNF protein.
This results in the stimulation of a minor part of the brain during certain types of activity, such as driving.
Dr. Cramer mentions, “Those with the T allele make more errors from the get-go, and they forget more of what they learned after time away.”
But there also seems to be an upside to carrying the Val66Met variant.
Studies report a beneficial effect of this variant on cognition in people with Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.
Like most human traits, driving is a trait that comes naturally to some people.
While these people drive like they were born to do it, others struggle to simply stick to a lane.
Turns out, certain genes influence whether you shape up to be a good or bad driver.
The BDNF gene that supports communication between brain cells is one such example.
The T allele variant of this gene, also known as the Val66Met variant, results in lowered production of the BDNF protein.
This is associated with reduced brain stimulation in certain instances, such as driving, making some people naturally bad drivers than others.
Neuroticism is a negative personality trait that reflects an individual’s emotional stability.
People with this trait find it difficult to control their emotions, have poor self-regulation, and have trouble dealing with stress.
Individuals who are neurotic also become easily aroused or stimulated and find it difficult to calm themselves down.
Neuroticism is considered one of the ‘Big Five personality traits with extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness.
Common neurotic traits that are observed in people at the higher end of the spectrum include:
Image: Top 7 traits of Neuroticism
Due to the unpredictability and a tendency for negative behavior among people with neuroticism, they may find it difficult to maintain relationships, especially marital ones.
Few reasons why people with neuroticism may rattle those around them:
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2016 found new gene associations linked to neuroticism.
These genetic links indicate an individual’s tendency to develop neuroticism.
People with neuroticism also tend to develop conditions like anxiety, depression, obesity, and heart disease.
Though several places in our genes may contribute to neuroticism traits, only 15% of neuroticism is determined by genetics.
This means the remaining 85% is influenced by the environment.
This means that just because you have a genetic tendency for neuroticism, you will not positively develop it.
Further research is required to pinpoint the exact locations on the DNA responsible for this condition.
Variations in the cannabinoid receptor 1 or CNR1 gene, located on chromosome 6, have been associated with an increased risk of depression in some people in response to stressful situations.
Some variations in the CNR1 gene have been linked to high neuroticism and low agreeableness.
rs7766029 is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the CNR1 gene that shows a significant interaction between negative life events and the risk for depression.
The common allelic variants, i.e., T carriers, are more vulnerable to negative life events and higher neuroticism than those having the rare allele (C).
Neuroticism modifies an individual’s behavior and affects every aspect of their life, from health to relationships. Here are some ways to manage and cope with neuroticism:
Though neuroticism is not a medical condition, most people with this personality trait have one or more psychological conditions. So, if you are struggling with neuroticism or behavior, seek professional help.
Treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may help you deal with negative emotions better.
It may seem difficult for people high on neuroticism to find positivity. However, believing that change is possible is one of the first steps to modifying their neurotic behavior.
When these individuals realize they have control over their emotions in stressful situations, the subsequent steps to modify their neuroticism will become easier.
People with neuroticism may benefit from mindfulness or meditation, which allows them to calm their minds and live in the present moment.
These practices also help reduce stress and lower blood pressure, calming the mind and body.
Individuals with neuroticism tend to get flustered easily as they don’t look at issues objectively.
Developing problem-solving skills will help them convert their negative emotions into constructive solutions rather than allowing their emotions to pile up.
People aware of their neuroticism are most often powerless when it comes to defeating their behavior. A good place to begin is by changing the way they talk to themselves.
Constant positive reinforcements can help modify underlying neurotic tendencies and replace them with optimistic thoughts.
Music is an arrangement of sound that fits into a particular harmony, rhythm, and beat.
Music is universal, and the world has seen exceptional musical talents over time.
How do some people create music, sing, or play an instrument like it is their second nature while others find themselves musically challenged?
While the environment the person grows up in and their practice play a major role in developing their musical talent, recent research suggests that musical ability could depend on genes.
This means that children could be born with the inherent talent to identify tunes or play an instrument early on, giving them an edge over the others as they grow up.
Studies claim that genes may determine about 40-50% of a person’s musical abilities.
There could be many genes that control musical abilities.
However, not all of them have been identified.
One particular gene associated with musical ability based on a genome-wide study was UDP Glycosyltransferase 8 (UGT8).
The UGT8 gene controls the production of the 2-hydroxyacylsphingosine 1-beta-galactosyltransferase enzyme.
This enzyme helps produce galactosylceramides.
Galactosylceramides are lipids that cover the myelin of the nerves in the central nervous system.
The myelin layer is responsible for transmitting signals between nerves.
A particular study analyzed the relationship between UGT8 gene variations and musical ability in the Mongolian population.
1008 individuals from 73 families were picked up for the study.
A pitch-production accuracy test was conducted to analyze their musical abilities.
A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in this gene, rs4148254, was found to be highly associated with musical ability.
A similar study was conducted amongst 234 people from 15 Finnish families.
The individuals were a mix of professional musicians, amateurs, and those who weren’t musically trained.
Three tests were used to measure auditory aptitude.
Here are the results of the test.
| Auditory test | Musical ability’s heritability % |
| Karma Music Test (KMT) | 42% |
| Seashore Pitch test (SP) | 57% |
| Seashore time discrimination test (ST) | 21% |
| Combined tests | 48% |
The tests show that musical ability could be inherited by up to 57%.
Therefore, a person having an absolute pitch or someone else with amusia (the inability to process music) could result from genetic changes.
Natural musical ability is genetically inherited, while nurtured ability depends on the environment and other external factors.
The practice has always been a key factor associated with succeeding in something.
So will practice help overcome genetic boundaries and make a person musically exceptional?
Here is where this gets very interesting.
Practice definitely helps improve skills.
However, a person’s ability to practice consistently may also be driven by genes!
This means that specific genotypes may push a person to practice more and enjoy the process of practicing.
This, in turn, may increase the chance of the person becoming an accomplished musician.
A study by David Z. Hambrick and Elliot M. Tucker-Drob analyzed the correlation between genes and environmental impacts on music accomplishment.
The results reported that "success may not always result from determination, hard work, or practice.
A person’s genes may play a more significant role than once assumed in helping the person succeed.
These researchers identified 850 same-sex twins and questioned them on their musical abilities and their practice schedule.
Here are some of the takeaways from the study.
Cognitive development is a process by which human beings begin to acquire, process, retain, and use knowledge.
Cognition includes vital skills like thinking, remembering, processing, decision making, and problem-solving.
Cognitive development starts while in the womb and continues well into adulthood.
Jean Piaget is one of the earliest influencers who researched cognitive development.
According to him, there are four stages of cognitive development.
Cognitive skills help individuals understand the relationship between ideas, understand cause and effect, process information analytically, and make the right decisions at the right time.
How is cognitive development built? Is it genetically inherited or learned with practice?
Recent studies show that 50 to 70% of variations in cognition could be due to genetic changes.
This means that as soon as a person is born, a major part of their cognitive abilities could be pre-decided.
This completely changes the game for social programs and educational processes to increase children's Intelligence Quotient.
So does social factors have no role to play in cognitive development? Yes, say researchers.
While genes influence children's cognitive abilities, their socio-economic background, environmental factors, and access to opportunities majorly determine whether they reach their cognitive potential.
For example, consider two children with similar genetic makeup.
Child A is economically superior, while child B comes from a low socio-economic background.
Child A may still show higher cognitive development because a better socio-economic background opens more avenues and gives them better opportunities to use resources, learn and train.
A 2013 study on genetic influences on cognition states that the influence of genes on cognitive ability is increased when the learning experiences are better.
This means that while nature plays a bigger role in determining a person's cognitive development, one cannot ignore the role of the environment and experiences.
Also, other external factors like nutrition and stress levels may affect the ability of a person to achieve their cognitive potential—more about this in the coming sections.
Cognitive skills like thinking, reasoning, processing and decision-making use different brain functions controlled by multiple genes in the body.
A 2018 study reported that about 709 previously identified genes, along with 148 newly identified genes, together may be associated with cognitive development.
There are also seven sets of genes identified that regulate the below functions.
Changes in these gene sets may affect different brain functionalities, including cognitive function.
Due to several reasons, many people don’t reach their genetic potential for cognitive development. Here are tips to improve cognitive health.
A person’s mental health affects brain health, and studies say this starts even before the person is born. For instance, high levels of stress in mothers during gestation may affect the brain development of the fetus, and this may cause changes in cognitive development.
Work on controlling stress levels with mindfulness practices.
While there is no solid evidence that cognitive-stimulating activities help improve cognitive function, experts suggest that these activities may help slow down the cognitive decline in adults.
Brain teasers and brain games can be used to delay conditions like dementia and improve brain health.
A very important study that connected social behavior and cognitive impairment was the Experience Corps trial.
In this trial, 702 individuals aged 60 or older were given an opportunity to get involved in volunteering activities.
The study showed that people who experienced social connectedness because of volunteering had a significant increase in hippocampal volume.
Larger hippocampal volume points to better cognitive development.
Social enrichment also plays a role in improving cognitive development in infants.
Studies show that a stimulating social environment, increased parental involvement, and engaging play activities can benefit cognitive development in infants as less as six months of age.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-018-0277-0
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006996/
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1708491114
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131001141218.htm
