Compared to groups of other people selected for intelligence, like engineers, mathematicians or professional politicians.

What I find remarkable about academics is that they seem to have much longer attention spans than any of these other groups. But in quick learning, logical reasoning or handling unfamiliar information, few academics impress me as much as a typical member of these other groups will.

This is strictly my informal observation, but I've studied and worked in universities for 17 years now, so I do think it is a fairly informed one.