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  • Name: Jose Mora
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  • Bio: I'm a PhD student in artificial intelligence interested in computers, research and specially and more specifically on artificial intelligence.
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Viruses hive intelligence (biology)

Even very simple creatures like viruses may display intelligence, not only in their mutations, but in their behavior. It’s a good example to have in mind when considering the question of what is in fact intelligence. The finding has plausible applications for vaccines too.

Amplify’d from www.newscientist.com
Viruses use ‘hive intelligence’ to focus their attack

The video catches viruses only a few hundred nanometres in size in the act of hopping over cells that are already infected. This allows them to concentrate their energies on previously uninfected cells, accelerating the spread of infection fivefold.

They found, to their amazement, that a virus leaving a cell would travel to another cell and merely bounce off it if it already contained the virus
two viral proteins which are presented on the surface of the infected cell effectively tell the virus not to bother reinfecting that cell
it suggests that viruses can function with a sort of primitive ‘hive mentality’ to ensure efficient use of host cell resources
Finding ways to block the cell surface proteins might provide new antiviral drugs
the theory might not apply to all viruses
It depends on how widespread the phenomenon is among viruses and whether it hold true in the body as it does in cell cultureRead more at www.newscientist.com
 

Are you clever? Are your rational?

The human being is supposed to be an animal capable of rational thinking, however this kind of thinking seems more rare than a priori expected.

That's why people with high IQs may act foolishly. IQ tests may measure the brain capacity of thought, but not the use of it people do. The key is not how much can you think, but how rational are your thoughts, how muc... read more

Amplify’d from www.newscientist.com
how can a “smart” person act foolishly?
IQ scores have long been criticised as poor indicators of an individual’s all-round intelligence
As an illustration of how rational-thinking ability differs from intelligence, consider this puzzle: if it takes five machines 5 minutes to make five widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets? Most people instinctively jump to the wrong answer that “feels” right - 100
we often get them wrong, probably because our brains use two different systems to process information
One is intuitive and spontaneous; the other is deliberative and reasoned
The problem with IQ tests is that while they are effective at assessing our deliberative skills, which involve reason and the use of working memory, they are unable to assess our inclination to use them when the situation demands
the correlation between intelligence and successful decision-making is weak
those who displayed better rational-thinking skills suffered significantly fewer negative eventsRead more at www.newscientist.com
 

Are you happy with your IQ?

Amplify’d from www.newscientist.com
Gene for memory and IQ gives students low grades
The gene makes an enzyme that recycles a neurotransmitter called dopamine
people with two copies of the Met-158 mutation tend to have a better working memory and higher verbal IQs than those with one or two copies of the Val-158 mutation
The Met-158 mutation does not only affect memory and verbal IQ: previous research has also linked it to mental illness, anxiety and emotional vulnerability. So in the context of an extremely stressful, high-stakes exam, it makes sense that students with the Met-158 allele tested more poorly than othersRead more at www.newscientist.com
Amplify’d from www.newscientist.com
A new study of thousands of twins suggests that intellectual confidence is genetically inherited, and independent from actual intelligence
Determining what specific genes affect self-perceived ability won’t be easy
Many of them should be linked to actual intelligence
Genes that are linked to personality, which is another partially heritable trait
will not
Confidence as important as IQ in exam successRead more at www.newscientist.com
 

Prepare for the speculation, which is something that I sometimes do, sorry, you have the sources linked so you can draw your own conclusions.

High levels of dopamine seem to be associated with contentment, so anxiety is probably related with low levels of dopamine, with is related with high IQ and memory. Once again intelligence and happiness seem to be contrary.

The second part is more tricky. It is stated that self-confidence in intelligence may be unrelated with real IQ but is related with grades. What is the cause and the consequence between the high grades and self-confidence? May that mean that IQ tests are in fact not measuring intelligence? It is in fact tricky, but now take the first part again.

Self-confidence seems related with high levels of dopamine, which is related with not-so-good IQ, but good grades. So if you are happy with your IQ chances are that it is not so high.

Well, that made sense.

However the brain is a complex system, a small change may have big consequences. The reuse of dopamine being one of those possible changes, but there are many other factors that remain unknown and that may have an influence in all the variables considered here. Science is only scratching the surface, but every step counts.

PS: remember all this is just my really really humble opinion.