Peripheral nerve conduction velocity, reaction time, and intelligence: An attempt to replicate Vernon and Mori (1992)

Abstract

In an attempt to examine the relationship between neural speed, as indicated by nerve conduction velocity (NCV) along the median nerve of the arm, and intelligence, four relevant studies have been carried out: two finding the relationship and two not finding evidence of such a relationship. In an attempt to replicate the two studies (Vernon & Mori, 1992) finding this relationship, 38 healthy, right-handed females, aged 20 to 30 years, completed the Multidimensional Aptitude Battery (Jackson, 1984), a series of reaction-time tasks and were submitted to the same NCV procedures as in Vernon and Mori (1992). Contrary to prediction, NCV did not correlate with intelligence or reaction time. A reanalysis of Vernon and Mori (1992), however, showed evidence for a possible sex difference in relation to NCV and intelligence, with a pronounced correlation between these variables being found in males but a much smaller correlation being found in females.