CARRYING on a conversation with friends in a noisy pub could be a sign of intelligence, according to scientists.
A team linked higher IQ to better speech perception in a rowdy space such as a restaurant or bar.
People were deemed to be smarter based on their increased ability to listen and keep a chat flowing while ignoring loud distractions.
The University of Washington asked 49 people aged between 13 and 47 with normal hearing to listen to one speaker’s voice while others tried to talk over them.
The results were compared with intelligence tests.
In the journal Plos One, the researchers said: “We found a highly significant relationship between intellectual ability and speech perception.”
Author Prof Bonnie Lau said loud background noise makes the brain work harder to keep conversation going, so clever clogs are better at it.
It means someone might be smart if they chat away at a noisy pub, cafe or concert.
Prof Lau said: “In a restaurant you have to segregate the streams of speech and selectively attend to the person that you’re interested in.
“That involves suppressing competing noise and comprehending syllables and words.
“There are also social skills such as smiling and nodding.
“All these factors increase the cognitive load of communicating when it is noisy.”
Researchers said the findings suggest teachers should put lower ability students at the front of the class.
Past studies have found higher intelligence linked to stronger senses.
Greater brain capacity may speed up the processing of smell, touch and sight.
Carrying on a conversation with friends in a noisy pub could be a sign of intelligence, according to scientists[/caption]
