Study of Cranial Capacity in Relation to Intelligence and Other Anthropometric Parameters Among Students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
CHAPTER ONE
Aim and Objectives
Aims
The Aim of the present work is to study cranial capacity in relation to other anthropometric parameters and intelligence among students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Objectives
This study was designed with the following objectives and to investigate:
- If there exist ethnic differences in craniometric parameters, other anthropometric parameters and intelligence among students of ABU, Zaria.
- Sexual dimorphism in craniometric parameters, other anthropometric parameters and intelligence.
- The relationship between craniometric parameters and intelligence and other anthropometric parameters and intelligence.
- The influence of parental socio- economic status on craniometric and other anthropometric parameters.
- The relationship between craniometric and other anthropometric parameters.
CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW
The Human Skull
The skull is certainly the most important part of the body for identifying and classifying primates (Conroy, 1990). It is extremely complex and as such has a wealth of features that can be used for taxonomy and as developmental indicators (Aiello and Dean, 1990). Much of the variation among skulls (especially within species, or between closely related species) does not depend on the presence or absence of specific features (non-metric traits) but on the difference in size and shape of the elements. To quantify this difference, a lot of effort has gone into measuring skulls; the most important use of the skull in terms of human evolution is in taxonomy. The other importance of skull anatomy is by linking structure with function in order to reconstruct behaviour as such provides evidence of the size and shape of the soft tissues such as brain, eyes, nose, ears and vocal apparatus. The direct functions of the skull are to provide a bony framework for the teeth and the muscles of mastication, and for support and protection of the soft tissues of the head (Aiello and Dean 1990).
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Participants
Participants were randomly selected from healthy students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with ages ranging from 18 to 30 years.
Study location
The study was conducted in Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT
Descriptive statistics of study population
Five hundred and fifty one (551) students of Ahmadu Bello University students both male and female aged 18 to 30 years old were considered for this study. The mean age and the mean of the different anthropometric parameters in the general study population are as shown in Table 4.1.
The study population was made up of two hundred and fifty one (251) males (mean age 22.83 ± 2.39) and three hundred (300) females (mean age 21.28 ± 2.40).The mean age of the males was greater than that of the females though the difference in their age mean was not statistically significant as shown in Table 4.2 (p = 0.82).
The present study showed that, males were significantly taller than females (p ˂ 0.01), significantly heavier than females (p ˂ 0.01) but the body mass index (BMI) of the females were higher than that of males but there was no significant difference between them (p = 0.140).
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION
In the present study, it was observed that males were heavier than females; the possible reason for this difference could be sexual dimorphism in body composition (Adebisi, 2003; Loomba- Albrecht and Styne, 2009). Wells (2007) also reported a considerable dimorphism in body composition between adult, males and females. In addition, the patterns of sexual dimorphism are physiologically caused by hormonal factors and hold across all human population (Gatfordet al. 1998; Rosenbaum and Leibel, 1999). It is well established that adult females surpass males in absolute and relative amount of subcutaneous fat tissue, while males exhibit a quantitative higher amount of fat free body mass including bone as well as soft tissue, lean body mass i.e muscle mass throughout adult life (kyleet al, 2001; Shenet al, 2009).
The findings in the present study indicated that majority of study subjects in their early adulthood have normal weight. The prevalence of normal weight was more in females than the males. This might be due to the consciousness of the females to societal perception which encourages slender shaped females. This was consistent with the reports of some researchers such as Olusanyaet al (2009) in Nigeria and Yahiaet al (2008) in Lebanon.
CHAPTER SIX
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
There was no relationship between Craniometric parameter and test of intelligence for males. However, in females there was a relationship between cranial length, cranial capacity, brain weight, cerebral quotient and index with test of intelligence. There was relationship between anthropometric parameters and test for intelligence. This was observed between BMI and test of intelligence in females, and between chest and waist circumferences and test for intelligence in males. Paternal level of education influenced cranial breadth, cranial capacity, brain weight, cerebral quotient, weight, height, neck circumference and chest circumference. Maternal level of education also influenced height, weight, cranial capacity, cranial height, brain weight, neck circumference, chest circumference and mid upper arm circumference.
Conclusion
Ethnic difference was observed in the Craniometric parameters except cranial height. There was no relationship between Craniometric parameters and test of intelligence in males, while in females some relationship was observed. Relationship was observed between anthropometry and test of intelligence.
Recommendation
The following further researches on this work are recommended:
- To find out the basis of genetic factors, which accounted for the phenotypic variance in cranial
- On whether environmental factors exert more influence on different ethnic
- Using more detailed examination with better assessments of brain size such as magnetic resonance
Contributions to knowledge
- Positive correlation was observed between cranial capacity and test of intelligence: male (r = 0.04); female (r = 0.15).
- Negative correlation was observed between test of intelligence and anthropometric parameters ( body mass index) in females ( r = -0.11)
- Remarkable sexual dimorphism was observed in cranial capacity in students of Ahmadu Bello University. Male: 1422.50; female: 1326.80 (p ˂ 0.005).
- Ethnic differences was observed in cranial capacity and intelligence among students of Ahmadu Bello University (p ˂ 0.005).
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