A large scale survey revealed that there is a certain correlation at the gene level that glasses are wearing and brains are clear

ByMatthias Weinberger

Just by wearing glasses you can imagine that you can "study", "have an intellectual image"Many people haveShould The fact that supports such an image is clarified from a large-scale survey targeting 300,000 people.

Study of 300, 486 individuals identifies 148 independent genetic loci influencing general cognitive function | Nature Communications
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-04362-x

Wearing glasses may really mean you smarter, major study finds | Science | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/may/30/glasses-smarter-study-intelligence-bad-eyesight-link-health-benefits

This research was conducted by a research team at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The team will investigate the impact of genes and environmentUK BiobankAnalysis of the cognition and genetic data of more than 300,000 people aged 16 to 102 gathered from such as "general cognitive function and reaction time" and "many health including sight, high blood pressure, and longevity The item concerning genetically overlapping "clearly exists in the item"

In another way of expressing this, "a person who was more intelligent said that the probability of having" a gene suggesting that it is necessary to wear glasses "is 30% higher than that of other people" It will be. In other words, it is highlighted that there is a genetic relation between a more intelligent and a weak sight at a certain rate, but furthermore from this research it is clear that cognitive function It is also found that there is a "negative correlation" which lowers the possibility of having many health problems such as angina pectoris, lung cancer and depression.


The thing to consider is that it became clear that there is a correlative relationship to the content which became clear this time, and the factor which definitely connects with being intellectual and wearing glasses is It is a recognition that it has not been made clear. The image "intellectual" is subjective and it is very difficult to measure quantitatively. In addition, linking intellect to genes can be developed to an easy and false "racial theory" and so on, it can be said that thoughtful handling is required.

On the other hand, it can be said that the fact that many people tend to have an image of "glasses = intelligence" is a fact that human race has remembered as a rule of thumb. Many studies done so far have revealed that people who wear glasses tend to have images such as "smart", "reliable", "diligent", "honest". To take advantage of this tendency, it is said that many lawyers sometimes wear glasses to the accused during trial. In fact, Mr. Harvey Slovis, a lawyer, said in an interview with "New York" magazine that "glasses has the effect of giving the appearance to think that this person can not cause such a crime." In the past, I was in charge of a trial where there was a large amount of evidence to support, but I had won the innocence by having the accused wear glasses.The spectacles had a kind of implicit that gave me a serious impression It creates defensive power. "

Lawyers are not the only people to use glasses as a strategic prop. Even in pop culture with images as one of the merchandise, attempts to give an intellectual impression by wearing glasses are often taken. In addition to the impression of intellectuality by wearing eyeglasses, there are also cases where it is aimed to plant images such as "doggy" and "unfeasible". To the extent that the influence of glasses on the image of a person can be said to be great, it has been repeated so far to look at such "impression operation" negatively.


Among them, the most prominent are American scientists,Isaac AsimovThis is what I mentioned in the essay series 'Asimov's Science essay'. In the film world around 1940, there was sometimes a production using the gap feeling that "The face was beautiful when you take off glasses" was used, but Asimov said "It is worn out in Hollywood "" Beautifying the glasses that symbolize intelligence is a stupid act of praising idleness "is criticized as criticizing the directing method used at that time in the film industry .

Bringing glasses and intelligence together is called "Is chicken first, egg ahead?"It may be difficult to find a definitive conclusion. However, there seems to be only a clear fact that there is a certain correlation.