Brain Activity of Toddlers May Predict IQ at Later Stages: Study

Washington, 3 Jul (ONA) --- The way that a young child's brain hums along at rest could predict their active intelligence later in life.

Researchers in the United States and Germany have followed up on a past study in Romania to show, for the first time, how a kid's upbringing might influence their brain power years down the road.

Comparing the cognitive abilities of fostered and institutionalized children with those who grew up in home care, researchers found institutionalized children had relatively lower IQs at 18 years of age.

In this latest research, scientists found a relationship between brain wave patterns and those IQ scores in the same data.

"These findings demonstrate that experientially-induced changes in brain activity early in life have a profound impact on long-term cognitive development, highlighting the importance of early intervention for promoting healthy development among children living in disadvantaged environments," the researchers wrote.

Today, the way that a person's brain behaves at rest is thought to remain relatively stable across adulthood, even as active brain power fluctuates with age.

---Ends/Thuraiya/AG