Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Richard Haier on the Neuroscience of Intelligence, Correlates of IQ, and the G-Factor

Oct 9, 2020

Richard Haier, a leading researcher in the neuroscience of intelligence, shares intriguing insights into the nature of IQ and its genetic underpinnings. He discusses the controversial aspects of intelligence research and debunks the myth linking IQ to morality. Haier elaborates on brain efficiency, the Parietal Frontal Integration Theory, and the societal implications of low IQ. The conversation also explores the effectiveness of brain training and stimulation techniques in enhancing cognitive abilities, making complex neuroscience concepts accessible.

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ANECDOTE

Early Brain Imaging Challenges

Richard Haier recalls early PET scan studies costing $2,500 each, requiring a million-dollar cyclotron.
Limited sample sizes of eight were considered groundbreaking due to the technology's novelty.

INSIGHT

The Brain Efficiency Hypothesis

Initial PET scans revealed an inverse correlation between brain activity and intelligence test scores.
This led to the brain efficiency hypothesis: higher IQ individuals exhibit lower brain activity during cognitive tasks.

INSIGHT

Stigma in Intelligence Research

A stigma surrounds intelligence research, impacting funding and research focus.
Some researchers avoid the term "intelligence" to secure grants, opting for "reasoning" instead.

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RICHARD HAIER'S LINKS WEBSITE: http://richardhaier.com BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Neuroscience-I... TWITTER: @rjhaier (https://twitter.com/rjhaier

TIMESTAMPS 0:00:00 Thoughts on his book "The Neuroscience of Intelligence" 0:02:50 The Bell Curve's controversy 0:06:26 The "brain efficiency" hypothesis 0:16:06 The stigma associated with intelligence research, and race & IQ 0:21:31 No relationship between IQ and morality 0:22:27 IQ vs. the g-factor vs. intelligence 0:23:46 Using chronometry to develop a ratio scale 0:26:38 Low IQ (below 85) is a societal problem 0:29:04 Intelligence is genetic, but that's hopeful since it means we can design interventions around it 0:31:18 Do "brain training games" help with IQ? What about piracetam / nootropics? 0:31:55 Dual n back? 0:33:17 TDCS, PEMF (eg. NeoRythym), and other EM-stimulation devices 0:36:01 Particular brain regions associated with intelligence (Parietofrontal integration theory) 0:46:50 The correlates of IQ on life outcomes 0:47:47 Psychometric tests of character / morality 0:49:16 RAPM test (pause and see what you guess) 0:53:24 Path length's between regions and why they matter 0:57:36 The famous Finn et al 2015 study, and groundbreaking studies that have been published since 1:04:12 IQ genes aren't deterministic but probabilistic 1:05:14 Do children have the average IQ of their parents? 1:06:46 Can brain damage increase IQ? (acquired savantism demonstrates abilities but what about IQ?) 1:08:34 Relationship between openness and intelligence 1:09:40 Relationship between LSD trips and intelligence 1:11:01 Relationship between IQ and happiness 1:11:53 Is the Flynn effect real? What are the limitations? 1:15:26 What decreases one's IQ? (cautionary tales) 1:16:59 IQ's relationship to consciousness 1:22:00 Mindfulness meditation and IQ 1:23:27 Joscha Bach's idea of intelligence (Haier's perspective) 1:24:26 Eric Weinstein's ideas on intelligence (Haier's perspective) 1:27:16 Elon Musk's Neurolink 1:27:57 Artificial intelligence and IQ tests for computers 1:31:14 Finding the g-factor in animals 1:32:55 What separates humans from the rest of the animals?

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