Generational IQ gains: Spanish data

There are thought-provoking data concerning massive IQ gains in the last fifty years. Flynn showed these gains in 14 nations. He suggests that these gains are symptomatic of the inadequacy of identifying IQ and intelligence, and that the gains are related to the ability to solve the type of abstract problems included in IQ tests (APSA, Abstract Problem Solving Ability). However, as Lynn (1990) has stated it is difficult to keep apart intelligence and abstract thinking. The gains are specially high in the domain of fluid abilities (Gf) and much less in crystallized abilities (Gc). These data support the possible nutritional effects over Gf, in the same way that dietary improvement has influenced height gains in the last 50 years. But there are other explanations as well. The present study analyzed data from the Spanish population (with time intervals between 28 and 16 years), not included in other datasets, and questions the APSA interpretation of the IQ gains.