The average IQ in Europe decreased from 1970

A group of researchers from the Center for Economic Research Ragnar Frisch in Norway found that IQ-test indicators declined slowly over the last few decades. In a paper published in the PNAS, Bernt and Ola Bratsberg Rozheberg describe your research and results, and suggested their possible explanation. Earlier studies have shown that people umnel in the first half of the last century, judging by the dimensions of intelligence factor - this trend was called the Flynn effect. To explain various theories have been proposed, including nutrition, health, education and so on. D. Any factor that helps people to become smarter adults. But now, according to researchers from Norway, this trend has ended. Instead, to get smarter, people tupeyut.

The study is to analyze the IQ test results, conducted among young people entering the Army in Norway, from 1970 to 2009. Total 730 000 results have been analyzed. By studying the data, the researchers found that scores decreased by an average of seven points per generation - exactly the opposite of those that have been around 70 years ago. But it's not all bad news. Scientists have also found some differences between the family groups and suggested that some of these changes can be caused by environmental factors. It could play the role of lifestyle changes, including in the education system - the children read less and play more video games. Similar results were obtained by British scientists - in the UK tests IQ declined by 2, 5 - 4, 3 points per decade. Last December, researchers from the US and found that children who ate a lot of fish as they grow older, tend to have a higher IQ. Remarkably, children in many countries in the modern world eat very little fish.