Genovese speculated that a fitness factor could be influencing the results because size of the body parts is one indicator of overall physical fitness. He said that a fit person could be more likely to have both a larger head and smarter brain.
He, however, still said that he was not sure whether fitness, rather than head size, was the direct cause of intelligence. "It is quite possible that greater body size, head size and IQs are, in this sample, proxies for some other variables, such as nutrition or socio-economic status," he said.
Based on his findings, Genovese said that it could be possible that the intelligence of Neanderthals had been underestimated to date because they had big heads.
"I rather think that the Neanderthals get a bad rap," he said.
The study has been accepted for publication in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.
Source-ANI
LIN/C