Eyes Open and Shut in Cognition: Closing Your Eyes Does Not Change Intelligence

9 Pages Posted: 16 Nov 2016

See all articles by John Protzko

John Protzko

University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences

James Broadway

University of New Mexico - Dept. of Psychology

Date Written: November 15, 2016

Abstract

Alpha power correlates with psychometric intelligence. Closing your eyes creates an artifactual spike in alpha. Therefore, if the alpha to intelligence correlation is causal, people should be more intelligent when they close their eyes. We tested this on N=96 participants randomly assigned to a fluid intelligence subtest with their eyes either open or shut. It did not change their intellectual performance.

Keywords: Intelligence, Alpha Power, Visual Impairment

Suggested Citation

Protzko, John and Broadway, James, Eyes Open and Shut in Cognition: Closing Your Eyes Does Not Change Intelligence (November 15, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2869850 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2869850

John Protzko (Contact Author)

University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences ( email )

Santan Barbara, CA
United States

James Broadway

University of New Mexico - Dept. of Psychology ( email )

1 University of New Mexico
MSC03 2220
Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161
United States

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