Can deep learning predict human intelligence from structural brain MRI?

Abstract

ABSTRACTCan brain structure predict human intelligence? T1-weighted structural brain magnetic resonance images (sMRI) have been correlated with intelligence. Nevertheless, population-level association does not fully account for individual variability in intelligence. To address this, individual prediction studies emerge recently. However, they are mostly on predicting fluid intelligence (the ability to solve new problems). Studies are lacking to predict crystallized intelligence (the ability to accumulate knowledge) or general intelligence (fluid and crystallized intelligence combined). This study tests whether deep learning of sMRI can predict an individual subject’s verbal, comprehensive, and full-scale intelligence quotients (VIQ, PIQ, FSIQ), which reflect both fluid and crystallized intelligence. We performed a comprehensive set of 432 experiments, using different input images, six deep learning models, and two outcome settings, on 850 autistic and healthy subjects 6-64 years of age. Results show promise with statistical significance, and also open up questions inviting further future studies.