How geography influences complex cognitive ability

• Autores: León Eyzaguirre, Federico R., Burga-León, Andrés
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2015
• Institución: Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola
• Repositorio: USIL-Institucional
• Lenguaje: inglés
• OAI Identifier: oai:repositorio.usil.edu.pe:20.500.14005/1588
• Enlace del recurso: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2015.04.011; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14005/1588
• Nivel de acceso: acceso embargado
• Materia: Evolution; Complex cognitive ability; Geography; Radiación solar

Evolutionary explanations for geography's influence on complex cognitive ability (CCA) imply virtually immutable components of between-nation IQ differences. Their weight vis-à-vis the weight of situational components was evaluated through an analysis of a 194-country data set. Additive effects of absolute latitude (AL) and longitudinal distance from Homo sapiens' cradle (LDC) explain Northeastern Asian higher, Sub-Saharan African lower CCAs. AL exerts cognitive influence directly and through socioeconomic development and evolutionary genetics whereas LDC does through evolutionary genetics; however, this occurs differently in Africa-Near East-Europe and elsewhere. The findings are understood assuming supremacy of contemporary UVB radiation → hormonal and climatic → socioeconomic mediators of the AL–CCA linkage whose effects are moderated by heterogeneous genetic and cultural adaptations to radiation and climate. Geography's cognitive effects are dynamic and public-policy actions may modify them.