Is Forehead Shape related to intelligence?

Click For Summary
The discussion centers on the relationship between forehead shape and intelligence, with participants expressing skepticism about any significant correlation. While some anecdotal claims suggest that forehead size may relate to brain cooling or overheating, there is no scientific evidence supporting a direct link between forehead shape and intelligence in the general population. Historical references to Neanderthals highlight their larger brains and sloped foreheads, but their intelligence remains uncertain. The conversation also touches on the complexity of intelligence, emphasizing factors such as brain cortex area, thickness, and folding rather than mere size or shape. Overall, the consensus is that intelligence is influenced by a variety of neurological factors, and forehead shape does not serve as a reliable indicator of cognitive ability.
Atran
Messages
93
Reaction score
1
Hi, Do different shapes of forehead indicate different degrees of intelligence?
Considering humans, Is there any relation between intelligence and forehead shape?

Thanks...
 
Biology news on Phys.org
I've become more intelligent over the years, but I don't think my forehead has changed shape as a result.
 
Google phrenology
 
Microcephaly is an extreme case where it very clearly does.
 
Neanderthals had larger brains and more sloped foreheads than us.
 
Atran said:
Hi, Do different shapes of forehead indicate different degrees of intelligence?
Considering humans, Is there any relation between intelligence and forehead shape?

Thanks...

In the general population, there is no such relationship.
 
I have heard conflicting reports. Some say people get wiser when their forehead extends, because brain cooling improves. Others say forehead extends in those wise, as an effect of brain overheating. In both cases there is an implied correlation between forehead size and intelligence. But that's size, not shape.
 
  • Like
Likes pragalbh
lisab said:
In the general population, there is no such relationship.

I disagree. In general, the closer an animal's forehead resembles a human's, the more intelligent it is. ;-)
 
I would argue that placement is more critical, as a direct relationship between distance of forehead from sphincter and intelligence.

;)
 
  • #10
Pythagorean said:
Google phrenology
So there is no scientific evidence for the forehead-shape relation to intelligence.

ThomasEdison said:
Neanderthals had larger brains and more sloped foreheads than us.
I wonder how much intelligent they were.

Borek said:
I have heard conflicting reports. Some say people get wiser when their forehead extends, because brain cooling improves. Others say forehead extends in those wise, as an effect of brain overheating. In both cases there is an implied correlation between forehead size and intelligence. But that's size, not shape.
Do you have some good links? If true, I wonder what specific part(s) of brain is (are) improving and increasing the size of the brain.

skeptic2 said:
I disagree. In general, the closer an animal's forehead resembles a human's, the more intelligent it is. ;-)
Not necessarily, you can find some intelligent animals whose foreheads is not shaped as humans (http://scienceray.com/biology/zoology/top-15-smartest-and-most-intelligent-animals/). Greats apes are the most intelligent, since, for instance, 99% of genes are identical between humans and chimpanzees.

- - - - -

I considered normal healthy people when I first asked my question.

- - - - -

What determines intelligence? Cortex area and thickness, amount of gray cells... What more? Does the frontal lobe play a important role in intelligence?
By 'intelligence' I mean the capacity to reason, understand, enjoy complexity...
 
  • #11
  • #12

Similar threads

  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
7K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K