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What Is Intellectual Ability?

By Avery Martin

The ability to make connections between various disciplines shows high intellectual ability.

The ability to make connections between various disciplines shows high intellectual ability.

Intellectual ability refers to the skills required to think critically, see connections between disciplines and
problem solve in new or changing situations. Memory, creative problem solving and vocabulary also
contribute to the level of an individual's intellectual ability. While scientists differ on one standard
definition of intellectual ability, most agree that intellectual ability must include a high level of abstract
reasoning and thinking skills, the ability to acquire knowledge and problem-solving abilities.

Genetic Correlations

Research indicates that intellectual ability is partially inheritable. A research team from the University of
Edinburgh compared DNA from more than 3,500 people that took an intelligence test. The study
concentrated on fluid and crystallized intelligence. The results showed that more than 40 percent of the
differences in intelligence existed due to genetic variations. The remaining differences in intelligence
resulted from environmental factors and genes that the researchers couldn't capture. Scientists at Kings
College in London discovered a gene that appears linked to intellectual ability. Researchers discovered
that individuals with a high-functioning NPTN gene tended to perform better on intelligence tests. Those
with a high-functioning NPTN gene also showed evidence of a thicker cerebral cortex, a portion of the
brain linked to intelligence.

Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence

The ability to apply creative, novel solutions to a given problem indicates a high level of intellectual
ability. When presented with a difficult and new situation, someone with a high degree of intellectual
ability shows a greater ability to understand the problem and comes up with adequate solutions.
Scientists identify two types of intelligence -- fluid and crystallized intelligence. Fluid intelligence refers
to the ability to solve novel problems and respond to situations. Crystallized intelligence relies upon
experience, developed skills and previously learned knowledge to solve a problem. Both fluid and
crystallized intelligence contribute to an individual's ability to solve problems.
Memory

The ability to recall and memorize information plays a role in intellectual ability. A good memory helps
individuals solve problems more effectively, but stressful situations and lifestyle choices can also affect
memory. Individuals can improve their memory to help boost certain aspects of intellectual ability.
Specifically, increasing your ability to store information can increase your fluid intelligence. According to
the National Institute of Health, working memory enables an individual to keep important thoughts in an
easily accessible state and is correlated to fluid intelligence and scholastic ability.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary helps an individual articulate and formulate ideas. An advanced vocabulary can help
individuals dissect words and understand new words they haven't yet learned. The Wechsler
Abbreviated Scales of Intelligence test, designed to assess intellectual ability and perceptual
organization uses vocabulary partially to determine levels of intellectual ability. Since vocabulary comes
from a person's ability to absorb new words and learn new concepts, a large vocabulary indicates a high
level of intellectual ability.

References

University of Connecticut: Giftedness and the Gifted

Shoreline Community College: General Intellectual Abilities

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The IQ and Intelligence

The Telegraph: Is Intelligence Written in the Genes?

National Institute of Health: Quantity Not Quality -- The relationship Between Fluid Intelligence and
Working Memory Capacity

University of Iowa: Fluid Ability, Crystallized Ability, and Performance Across Multiple Domains -- A
Meta-Analysis

ERIC: Vocabulary Acquisition: Implications for Reading Comprehension

Abstract of Kings College study on intellectual heritability

About the Author

Avery Martin holds a Bachelor of Music in opera performance and a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian
studies. As a professional writer, she has written for Education.com, Samsung and IBM. Martin
contributed English translations for a collection of Japanese poems by Misuzu Kaneko. She has worked
as an educator in Japan, and she runs a private voice studio out of her home. She writes about
education, music and travel.

Photo Credits

Sergey Nivens/iStock/Getty Images

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