Intelligence Across the

Lifespan
BY: ALEXANDER MINZ

Infant Intelligence

IQ tests at an early age can not accurately predict the IQ that an infant
will have later in life.

How easily an infant habituates can be linked to IQ later in life.

Nonverbal communication has a big impact on an infants Emotional

Intelligence and learning what a baby wants through facial or body
language can be very helpful to prevent frustration.

A cognitive or intellectual development that can be detected at this

age usually have to do with learning how to communicate verbally.

Maximize Infant Intelligence

Let the infant habituate to many different objects.

Teach them cause and effect games

Acclimating and exposing the infant to many different sounds, fabrics,

and toys can help the child build pathways in their brain to help with
reasoning and understanding.

Adolescent Intelligence

Abstract thinking starts developing at this age. Exposure to complex

and abstract concepts and ideas are important to stimulate growth in
this part of the brain.

An increase in memory span is developed slowly over this time.

The attention span is also greatly increased and improves an

adolescents ability to understand complicated issues.

The ability for an adolescent is also greatly increased over this time.

Egocentrism is also developed at this time. The ability for self

focused ideas and perspectives to be created.

Risk taking behaviour greatly increases at this age leading to more

injuries and death during this time.

Executive Functioning

Executive Functioning refers to ones ability to reason and problem

solve.

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for handling the responsibilities of

executive functioning.

Intellectual disabilities can show them self at this age and effect
executive functions. Things like ADHD and dyslexia directly affects
ones ability to use their executive functions.

Although most difficulties develop from heredity issues, some develop

from brain damage to the prefrontal cortex.

Adult Intelligence

Knowledge and experience, also known as crystallized intelligence,

stays the same or can be improved over this time.

Things such as thinking on your feet, or fluid intelligence, does decline

the older one gets.

Numeric ability and perceptual speed decline the most the older you
become while things like verbal ability and memory decline the least
amount.

Studies show that remaining in a stimulating work environment and

remaining in good health can help stave off the decline of intelligence
as one ages.

Not many intellectual disabilities will develop at this time since the
brain has finished developing. Any problems will arise from emotional
or physical trauma.