Intelligence is one of the most mysterious attributes of human nature. Intelligence, as measured by the IQ test, means how much you are able to learn, rather than how much you have actually learned. Psychologists are divided on how much of intelligence is innate and how much is attributable to environmental influences. Nearly all psychologists agree, however, that it is possible to increase aspects of your intelligence to at least some degree by performing certain mental exercises.
Step 1
Exercise at least 30 minutes per day. Regular exercise can not only enhance your problem-solving abilities, but can also reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to Richard E. Nisbett, social psychologist and author of the book "Intelligence and How to Get It."
Step 2
Meditate regularly. Sit upright in a comfortable chair in a dark, silent room and relax your body. Concentrate on your breathing and exercise gentle efforts to shut out all thoughts for at least 20 minutes. If you practice meditation daily, your brain function will be enhanced even when you are not meditating.
Step 3
Play computer games. Nisbett says that games that test strategy and reflexes improve attention, memory, and reaction time.
Step 4
Use "n-back" techniques to improve your memory. You might shuffle a deck of cards and place them on a table one by one in a series, turning each card face down as soon as you glance at it. When the next card is red, try to remember the identity of the immediately preceding card. When the next card is black, try to remember the identity of the second preceding card. Syracuse University psychology professor Paul Verhaeghen found that practices such as this, if practiced diligently, dramatically improve the working memory capacity within a matter of days.
Step 5
Practice neurobics. Neurobics was developed by Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D., neurobiology professor at Duke University Medical Center. It involves brain exercises such as getting dressed with your eyes closed, performing daily activities with the hand opposite from the one you usually use, and concentrating on two senses at the same time--smelling flowers while listening to music, for example.
Tips and Warnings
- "EQ"--emotional intelligence--may be as important to success in life as IQ.
