Intelligence tests recently carried out among more than a thousand children in Wolverhampton schools appear to show a striking and quite unexpected increase in the mental capacity of children born since 1945. A psychiatrist concerned in the tests has suggested that the most probable hypothesis to account for this change is the effect on the brain of the increase in "background radio-activity".

The tests were carried out under the direction of Dr J. Ford Thomson, consultant children's psychiatrist to the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury group of hospitals. They were begun after several children, referred to Dr Thomson by the schools on account of educational difficulties, had been found to show quite unexpected abilities. A child of 7½, described as a problem child in the "C" stream at school, was found to be exceedingly clever and well informed on astronomy, and was given an intelligence quotient of 142. Within two months another "prodigy" came along. He was also a "problem child," aged about 10½. He was found to have an I.Q. of 166.

These instances impelled Dr Thomson to search for more "prodigies" in Wolverhampton. He found what he was not looking for – namely, that all the children of this age group were by pre-war standards remarkably advanced. Having failed to find any other convincing explanation of this phenomenon, he has tentatively put forward the theory that only stimulation of the mind of the growing child by "background" atomic radiation seems to fit the facts.

In support of this he notes that the age group tested has been going through its period of quickest growth during the period in which atomic tests have been taking place. These children have been exposed to both man-made and natural radiation; like all other human beings, they are continually absorbing radiation into their bone structure ; but children of this age, it is suggested, absorb it more quickly and it has more effect upon them.

Dr Thomson suggests that that effect is to speed up the development of their brain structure – that is, the process of "cerebral myelinisation". He agrees with the recent report of the Medical Research Council on the hazards of nuclear radiation, that this is not at a stage where one need be alarmist about it. On the other hand, while its effect seems to be stimulating to children now, what will be its effect in the future? He is anxious to dispel what may be "a false sense of confidence".

Dr Thomson intends to pursue these intelligence tests and to collect more evidence from some thousands more Wolverhampton children.