Relationships between IQ and Regional Cortical Gray Matter Thickness in Healthy Adults

Prior studies show positive correlations between full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and cerebral gray matter measures. Few imaging studies have addressed whether general intelligence is related to regional variations in brain tissue and the associated influences of sex. Cortical thickness may m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. 1991) N.Y. 1991), 2007-09, Vol.17 (9), p.2163-2171
Main Authors: Narr, Katherine L., Woods, Roger P., Thompson, Paul M., Szeszko, Philip, Robinson, Delbert, Dimtcheva, Teodora, Gurbani, Mala, Toga, Arthur W., Bilder, Robert M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Brain Mapping
cerebral cortex
Cerebral Cortex - anatomy & histology
Cerebral Cortex - physiology
Cerebrospinal Fluid - physiology
cognition
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Female
frontal
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
intelligence
Intelligence - physiology
Intelligence Tests
magnetic resonance imaging
Male
Models, Statistical
sex
Sex Characteristics
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Summary:Prior studies show positive correlations between full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and cerebral gray matter measures. Few imaging studies have addressed whether general intelligence is related to regional variations in brain tissue and the associated influences of sex. Cortical thickness may more closely reflect cytoarchitectural characteristics than gray matter density or volume estimates. To identify possible localized relationships, we examined FSIQ associations with cortical thickness at high spatial resolution across the cortex in healthy young adult (age 17–44 years) men (n = 30) and women (n = 35). Positive relationships were found between FSIQ and intracranial gray and white matter but not cerebrospinal fluid volumes. Significant associations with cortical thickness were evident bilaterally in prefrontal (Brodmann's areas [BAs] 10/11, 47) and posterior temporal cortices (BA 36/37) and proximal regions. Sex influenced regional relationships; women showed correlations in prefrontal and temporal association cortices, whereas men exhibited correlations primarily in temporal–occipital association cortices. In healthy adults, greater intelligence is associated with larger intracranial gray matter and to a lesser extent with white matter. Variations in prefrontal and posterior temporal cortical thickness are particularly linked with intellectual ability. Sex moderates regional relationships that may index dimorphisms in cognitive abilities, overall processing strategies, or differences in structural organization.
ISSN:1047-3211
1460-2199
DOI:10.1093/cercor/bhl125