“The early years are the most important years of a child’s life…” - Barbara Bowman (early childhood education expert)
So, what if you were told that your IQ was shaped by your brain activity as a child? Researchers from this recent study made a strong case for how the first few years of life are crucial for intelligence, reinforcing Bowman’s earlier statement. They specifically studied how psychosocial deprivation due to institutional rearing can be detrimental to a child’s development.
From the results, the researchers found that theta power can predict future IQ, since infants with higher resting activity have higher IQs at 18. This specific brain activity was also linked to better reasoning, working memory, and processing speed in later years. This suggests that EEG results can become a useful biomarker to determine intellectual potential.
They also found that children who were raised in institutions have high theta power at baseline assessment, but it was linked to atypical neurodevelopment and lower IQ at 18. In comparison, those placed in foster care showed early cognitive improvements, but had no significant differences in brain activity at 18 when compared to those who were institutionalized. This implies that early intervention matters, but timing is also everything in determining developmental outcomes.
This is the first study that demonstrated how resting brain activity alone can also play a big role in intelligence. It reinforces the idea that psychosocial deprivation during childhood can lead to lower cognitive capabilities in adulthood, which highlights how important early intervention and stable caregiving are critical for long-term outcomes.
Looking back, do you think your early childhood experiences had significant impact on your cognitive abilities?
This is really eye-opening. The fact that theta power in infancy predicts IQ 18 years later suggests there’s some fundamental neurodevelopmental signature of intelligence forming incredibly early. What strikes me is the institutionalized kids had higher theta power initially, but it predicted lower IQ meaning it wasn’t just “more brain activity = smarter,” but that the quality and context of that activity matters. The foster care intervention helping but not completely closing the gap shows there might be critical windows where deprivation causes lasting effects even with later improvement.
Yeah, my early childhood was pretty stable with lots of stimulation, and I do think it gave me an advantage. But what’s sad here is how many kids in institutional care or neglectful environments basically have their cognitive potential limited through no fault of their own. The theta power finding is fascinating, it’s like you can literally see atypical brain development on an EEG before behavioral signs show up. Makes you wonder if early EEG screening could identify at-risk kids who need immediate intervention before the damage becomes permanent.
