What Does Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology Tell Us About Multiple Intelligence

Studies that have used noninvasive brain imaging techniques to record neocortical activity while individuals were performing cognitive intelligence tests (traditional intelligence) and social intelligence tests were reviewed. In cognitive intelligence tests 16 neocortical areas were active, whereas in social intelligence 10 areas were active. These results suggest that, at least for tasks reviewed in the present study, more neocortical activity was required for performance of cognitive intelligence tests than social intelligence tests. There was considerable overlap in the areas which were activated in cognitive and social intelligence, suggesting that both types of intelligence may rely on neural processing in similar cortical areas. Processes which may be comparable in cognitive and social intelligence include short-term memory, long-term memory, response inhibition, sustained attention, and perceptual speed and accuracy. Implications of the findings were considered in terms of validation of multiple intelligence and future directions in education.