Intelligence comes from Mom? Science says it’s true

If you ever wondered where smarts come from, research has discovered who’s responsible: Mom.

According to an article from Psychology Spot, studies suggest mothers are principally responsible for transmitting the intelligence genes.

Puts a little smile on your face, huh?

Here are a few highlights from the article:

>> “Mother’s genes go directly to the cerebral cortex (and) those of the father to the limbic system.” Researchers have yet to find any paternal genes in the cerebral cortex. And just FYI, the limbic system supports functions like emotion, behavior, motivation, and survival.

>> Some of the most important findings come “from a longitudinal analysis conducted by the Medical Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in the Glasgow, Scotland. In this study they interviewed every year since 1994, 12,686 young people aged between 14 and 22 years. The researchers took into account several factors, from the color of the skin and education to socio-economic status. This way they found that the best predictor of intelligence was the IQ of the mother. In fact, the ratio of young people’s intelligence varied only an average of 15 points from that of their mothers.”

>> It is estimated that 40 to 60 percent of intelligence is hereditary.

>> Not super smart? How about this? Other studies “reveal the mother plays an important role in the intellectual development of children through the physical and emotional contact. In fact, some studies suggest that a secure bond is intimately tied to intelligence.” All of us have control over how much affection and attention we give our kids—if it makes them smarter, all the better.

One of the best takeaways from the article is that babies can get intelligence 1) as an inheritance, 2) as they are loved by Mom, 3) as Dad is emotionally present, and 4) as they live in a stimulating and healthy environment. If they get all four, they are probably among the luckiest, most blessed people on the planet. •

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