Discovering the neuronal basis of the mind?

2000/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

The group of English and German neurologists has pointed out that they have laid the nerve bases of general intelligence. The researchers analyzed the cerebral blood flow of 13 volunteers using the PET technique (Positron Emission Tomography).

The volunteers were asked to carry out three general intelligence tests. Subsequently, the researchers compared the results obtained and checked whether there was a common neuronal activity in all the tests. They wanted to know if the work activated the specific area of the brain or if, on the contrary, it activated an extensive region. The three tests showed remarkable activity in the lateral cortex of the forehead bone, sometimes in one brain hemisphere and sometimes in the others. In view of this, they have come to the conclusion that in this area lies the basis of intelligence.

Expert Robert Sternberg of Yale University wanted to take away the importance of discovery. In his opinion, saying that in the forehead brain lobes there is intellectual basis is excessive. The neuronal base requires a cause-effect relationship and only a mere correlation has been observed in the research carried out. But above the differences, John Duncan, head of research, and Robert Sternberg agree that discovery is a very important step in understanding the neuronal basis of human intelligence.