Gene for memory and IQ gives students low grades

"Alternatively, the results could be a statistical fluke, resulting from a small sample. 'This is very common among these kinds of studies because the genetic effects on cognition are so tiny that you need perhaps thousands of people to get a good estimate of the effect,' she says."

That was very good of the reporter to mention this possibility. That kind of issue always has to be evaluated when looking at new scientific studies.

http://norvig.com/experiment-design.html

It's an intriguing finding that should probably be looked at further in a different cultural context (is taking the SAT in America like taking the Taiwan college entrance exam in Taiwan?) and definitely should be looked at with a larger sample.

Could I propose that this whole thing is causated in the reverse direction to the one the article proposes: that the gene is for increased sensitivity to pressure and stress, and that kids try to escape the feeling of stress by fleeing into logic and hypothetical situations and memories, things that don't hold the same pressure as the present moment, but also thereby increase their IQ and memory with repeated "practice?"

This is far too early and I wish to see more conclusive results, but this might provide information as to why some really bright people don't fare well until they're at a university or in graduate school/the industry.

Perhaps employers could use this information: e.g. if a candidate fits a certain pattern, they could structure the interview process to be less stressful (to avoid situations where they may be passing up on some of the brighest people).

That could be also why really smart hackers tend to flock to startups, R&D/"platform" teams (as opposed to product development/customer facing teams) and graduate schools: ability to set your own schedule, greater say in setting the overall technical direction and timing/deadlines.