The research, titled the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth, was originally founded in 1971 at Johns Hopkins but is now co-directed by Vanderbilt University. Contrary to its name, the study also looks at verbally precocious youth and most of the participants are now adults.

These findings contradict two long-held theories, according to the science journal Nature. First, the idea that high performance comes mainly from practice and the second that "anyone can get to the top with enough focused effort of the right kind."

According to the journal, the research suggests that early cognitive intelligence has more effect on success than deliberate practice or outside factors like your socioeconomic status.