A Return to Phrenology

Posted by Alex Sharp Oct 31, 2009

I have been reading some interesting research from Medscape Medical News, which is attempting to link birth weight and IQ in the article "Improved Fetal Growth May Predict Increased IQ at School Age".

I have had many students who were premies, so I think that that there is something missing in this study. Perhaps parents care for premies and high birth weight children with more intense care? I'm not sure. The research is interesting, although despite the distinguished researchers, to me it has the feel of psedo science. Directly from the article by Laurie Barclay, MD : "'Longer birth length, higher birth weight, or larger head circumferences within the normal birth size range are associated with higher IQ scores in Asian children,' the study authors writes."

I have not read the research, just this abstract, which to me, is scary enough. The importance of environment can not be underestimated.

You can read all about it here.