A group of researchers from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (Switzerland) has finally empirically demonstrated the theory of neuronal efficiency, which was already widely accepted by the neuroscientific community. According to this hypothesis, smart people use their neural resources more efficiently. Or in the words of Elsbeth Stern, a professor at the aforementioned Swiss institute, “smarter people require less cortical activity to solve problems.”
In order to test the theory, the researchers recruited 80 students and subjected them to different tests related to the so-called “working memory”, which requires efforts, especially the frontal lobe. It could be defined as the ability to relate memories to new information, adapt to new goals, and filter out irrelevant information . While they were running the tests, they were subjected to EEGs.
According to their previous tests, the volunteers were divided into two categories: those with an IQ slightly above average and those who scored well above average. In very difficult or very easy tasks, there were no great differences , but things changed with problems of moderate difficulty: then the electrical activity was significantly lower in people with higher IQ.
Experts compare it to cars: when they go at a medium speed is when you can assess the differences in their management of resources. At low speed, the vehicles use little fuel , and if they go very fast, a lot, all the same.
Furthermore, Swiss scientists claim that, despite the belief of other colleagues, working memory cannot be exercised. Yes we can train ourselves to perform specific tasks, but when we face a new challenge, we all start from scratch.
