A Korean research team has discovered for the first time in the world that the primary factor that determines human intelligence quotient (IQ) is the network of several architectures of the brain.

The research team of the Psychiatric Health Department at Seoul National University Hospital announced Monday that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the network between the parietal-cerebellum and frontal, temporal lobes are related to intelligence.

Scientists have found the frontal lobe controls emotions and makes rational decisions while the temporal lobe functions as memory, language, and parietal lobe functions. However, they had yet to explain the reason high-level cognitive functions, such as intelligence combined with intellectual ability, differ from person to person.

The researchers studied 92 patients in 17-48 years of age, conducting IQ and MRI tests, and have confirmed that the higher the intelligence, the more seamless the signaling pathway between each part of the brain was connected. The average IQ of the participants was 113.9.

This is the first study in the world to show how parietal and frontal lobes form networks with other brain structures and is related to intelligence in the "parietal-frontal lobe integration theory."

"A magnetic resonance imaging taken at hospitals can reveal intelligence-related brain networks,” said Yoon Young-woo, a researcher who participated in the study. “We expect this study will serve as the basis for the need to research this relatively less explored area for intelligence research.”

The research, supported by the Korea Research Foundation and the BK21 Plus project, was published in the Scientific Reports on November 19, under the heading of “Brain structural network related to intelligence and visual athletic ability.”