ok, crainal capacity has no effect on cognitive abilities, with in a range of course. first the measurements for Neandertals at 1600cc is an average from what would like comprise a small sample of their population and it is not outside the range of human variablity, which means they likely did not have any greater or for that matter any less "intellegance". if crainal capacity determined intellegence sorry girls but you would be the dumber sex by about 10%, however, it has been shown that the difference is likely do to an increased amount of spinal fluid around the brain(which is likely the case with neandtals, look at the rest of their bodies, clearly evolved for taking damage and surviving) in males, and it has also been proven that the relative cognitive abilities of each sex is insignificant.[b said:Quote[/b] (shokuchuu @ Feb. 12 2005,9:47)]Did you see I mentioned brain/cranial capacity (aka the interior)? (On AVERAGE, Neanderthals=1600cc, us=1300cc.) Yes, the whole brain:body ratio comes into play (so does ambient temperature), but not all people of certain origins are of similar physical stature. What I'm trying to say is, brain size has NO influence on intelligence.
as for diff. races( which do not exist humans have made them up) have differnt intellegence levels that is a joke, although the crainal size may be differnt in differnt races(though usally its just a small shape differnece) the cognitive abilities of each "race" have been shown to be on par with each other with only insignificant differnece or flawed data.
So i guess what my point is is this RACES DO NOT EXIST! period, they are only fabriacated by people when they feel they can gain by creating an us/them situtation.
though i will say as a side not Neandertals were likely more intelligent than modern humans as there has not been any evidence found for interpersonal or intergroup violence among them. which is much better than what you can say about modern humans.