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Morphological jaw differences in mentally subnormal and normal adult males

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Alan Sanderson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Birmingham
Patrick J. Laycock
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Birmingham
Malcolm M. MacCulloch
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Birmingham
Alan Girling
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Birmingham

Summary

The shape of the mandibular symphysis was studied in four groups of adult male Caucasians, aged 18–49. The composition of the groups and their numbers were as follows: (1) Down's syndrome (20), (2) familial idiopathic subnormality (20), (3) healthy individuals, IQ range 94−120 (22), and (4) healthy individuals, IQ 130+ (22). From lateral skull radiographs, the outline of the mandibular symphysis was digitized with a D-mac pencil follower. Selected distances and angles were computed and used as variables in a canonical analysis. Plots of the canonical variates discriminated appreciably between each group. Generalized distance measurements between group means were significant for all pairs of groups except 2/3 and 3/4. The results suggest a genetic link between intelligence and symphysis shape. This hypothesis will be tested by introducing a brain-damaged group, matched in intelligence, and for length of stay in hospital, with Group 2. The finding could influence developments in human genetics and psychology.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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