How geography influences complex cognitive ability

• Main Authors: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), León, Federico R., Burga León, Andrés
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V. 2015
• Subjects: Geography; Evolution; UVB radiation; Complex cognitive ability
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/554348

[e-mail] === 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. === Funds for this researchwere provided by the Vicerrectorado de Investigación through the Research Center at Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL), Lima, Peru. We are indebted to Romain Wacziarg for making available to us the Spolaore- Wacziarg tables on genetic distance and Edvard Avilés for comments to an earlier version of the paper. FRL designed the study, drafted the manuscript, performed part of the analyses, and interpreted the findings. ABL performed the path analyses and approved the manuscript. The data set utilized in the research has been positioned at USIL's Repository and can be accessed through the following link: http://repositorio.usil.edu. pe/jspui/handle/123456789/1038. === Revisión por pares