New algorithm that may predict your intelligence
New York, June 30: Be careful if you lie about your IQ as researchers have developed a machine-learning algorithm that may tell how smart you are by looking at a scan of your brain.
The study showed that the new computing tool can predict a person's intelligence from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of their resting state brain activity.
The fMRI develops a map of brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow to specific brain regions.
"We found if we just have people lie in the scanner and do nothing while we measure the pattern of activity in their brain, we can use the data to predict their intelligence," said co-author Ralph Adolphs from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
To train their algorithm on the complex patterns of activity in the human brain, the researchers downloaded the brain scans and intelligence scores from almost 900 individuals.
The researchers found that after processing the data, the algorithm was able to predict intelligence at statistically significant levels across the subjects.
"The information that we derive from the brain measurements can be used to account for about 20 per cent of the variance in intelligence we observed in our subjects," said Julien Dubois from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre.
In predicting intelligence from brain scans, the algorithm is doing something that humans cannot, because even an experienced neuroscientist cannot look at a brain scan and tell how intelligent a person is, the researchers said.
The researchers also conducted a parallel study, using the same test population and approach, that attempted to predict personality traits from fMRI brain scans.
The personality test they used divides personality into five scales -- openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism.
However, it has turned out to be much more difficult to predict personality using the method the team used for predicting intelligence.
The two studies are yet to be published in the separate journals Personality Neuroscience and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
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India beat SA by 135 runs in 4th T20I, clinch series 3-1
Johannesburg, Nov 15: India beat South Africa by 135 runs in the fourth and final T20 International to clinch series 3-1 here on Friday.
Opting to bat, India posted a massive 283 for 1, thanks to unbeaten centuries from Tilak Varma (120 not out off 47 balls) and Sanju Samson (109 not out off 56 balls), and then bowled South Africa out for 148 in 18.2 overs.
Tristan Stubbs top-scored for South Africa with 46 while David Miller contributed 36.
For India, pacer Arshdeep Singh was the most successful bowler with figures of 3/20 while Varun Chakravarthy (2/42) and Axar Patel (2/6) got two wickets each.
Hardik Pandya, Ramandeep Singh and Ravi Bishnoi got a wicket each.
Brief Scores:
India: 283 for 1 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 109 not out, Tilak Varma 120 not out; Lutho Sipamla 1/58).
South Africa: 148 all out in 18.2 overs (Tristan Stubbs 46, David Miller 36; Arshdeep Singh 3/20).
