Which term refers to abilities an individual is born with (congenital)?

Which term refers to abilities an individual is born with (congenital)?

• A. Heritability
• B. Dyslexia
• C. fMRI
• D. Endowment

Answer: (D)

Innate, congenital abilities are described by endowment. Endowment refers to natural capacities a person is born with—talents or abilities that come with birth and aren’t acquired through learning. That’s why it best fits the idea of abilities someone is born with. In contrast, that term on a population level—heritability—measures how much of the variation in a trait across a group is due to genetic differences, not a statement about an individual’s inherent endowment. Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder, not a general term for born abilities, and fMRI is a brain-imaging technique used to study brain activity, not a description of innate abilities.

Innate, congenital abilities are described by endowment. Endowment refers to natural capacities a person is born with—talents or abilities that come with birth and aren’t acquired through learning. That’s why it best fits the idea of abilities someone is born with.

In contrast, that term on a population level—heritability—measures how much of the variation in a trait across a group is due to genetic differences, not a statement about an individual’s inherent endowment. Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder, not a general term for born abilities, and fMRI is a brain-imaging technique used to study brain activity, not a description of innate abilities.