We investigate the notion that basic visual information is acting as a building block for more complex cognitive processes in humans. Specifically, we measured individual visual orientation discrimination thresholds to report significant correlations against the total standardised intelligence quotient (IQ), verbal-IQ and non-verbal IQ scores evaluated using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence Second Edition (WASI-II) test battery comprising Verbal Reasoning, Block Design, Similarities and Matrix Reasoning subtests (N = 92). A multiple linear regression analysis showed that participants' performance in our visual discrimination task, could be explained only by individual scores in Verbal Reasoning which quantifies the ability to comprehend and describe words and Matrix Reasoning, which evaluates general visual processing skills including abstract and spatial perception. Our results demonstrate that low-level visual abilities and high-level cognitive processes are more tightly interwoven together than previously thought and this result could pave the way for further research on how cognition can be defined by basic sensory processes.
Copyright: © 2023 Mikellidou et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.