Called M1 and M3, these so-called 'gene¹ networks' appear to determine how smart a person is by controlling their memory, attention, processing speed and reasoning.

 

Crucially, the scientists have also discovered that these two networks - which each contain hundreds of genes - are likely to be under the control of master regulator switches.

 

The researchers from Imperial College London are now keen to identify these switches and explore whether it might be feasible to manipulate them.

 

The research is at a very early stage, but the scientists would ultimately like to investigate whether it is possible to use this knowledge of gene networks to boost cognitive³ function.

 

Dr Michael Johnson, lead author of the study from the Department of Medicine at Imperial College London, said: 'We know that genetics plays a major role in intelligence but until now haven't known which genes are relevant.

 

'This research highlights some of genes involved in human intelligence, and how they interact with each other.

 

'What's exciting about this is that the genes we have found are likely to share a common regulation, which means that potentially we can manipulate a whole set of genes whose activity is linked to human intelligence.

 

'Our research suggests that it might be possible to work with these genes to modify intelligence, but that is only a theoretical possibility at the moment - we have just taken a first step along that road.'

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