How To Increase IQ

Before 21st century, most neuroscientists thought that IQ is something stabilized in childhood and remains fixed throughout adulthood. However, that theory was always an unproven one and a myth, but it wasn't confirmed until this century. Groundbreaking research in cognitive neuroscience has proven, that IQ is something that can be improved, in other words one can increase IQ. So the question has to be asked, how to increase IQ ? The answer isn't simple and definitely not one-worded. But like in many ares, IQ can also be increased through exercise and training, and I don´t mean joking or bicycling, though psychical exercise is also somewhat necessary to increase one´s IQ.

Before I disclose the ways that have proven to be successful increasing IQ, I would like to explain briefly, what IQ exactly is.

The term IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient - it comes from German Intelligenz-Quotient. IQ can´t be calculated mathematically. Intelligence Quotient is often calculated by using the following formula :

IQ = (MA/CA) x 100, where MA = Mental Age and CA = Chronological Age.

Let´s say a 10 year old girl is able to perform at per 15 years mental age( A student of standard V is able to solve an equation of standard X). Then his MA is 15, but his CA is 10. Therefore her IQ is (15/10) x 100 = 150.
However, there are many different IQ tests that will give different results. Most of the free IQ test on the web are useless.

It comes back to the question how to increase IQ.It is very close to the question how to get smarter, although the question isn't exactly the same, when asked from a neuroscientist. Many magazines and newspapers often have articles on that very subject, and of course there are dozens of books on that very same subject.A large amount what can be found in these articles and books are quite often true, but also a lot of it is just rubbish and pure nonsense.

Now to get back to the subject how to increase IQ.Like I previously mentioned, exercise is the key. Brain training can potentially boost up your IQ quite a bit. Your brain need exercise just like your muscles do. Just like if you use your muscles often you become stronger, you will also become more skilled thinker if you use your brain more - by the way I don´t mean it as an insult in any way. But it isn't just like that.Let´s say that I ride my bike to work everyday, now this means my quads, glutes and calves, let´s say my leg muscles, do a lot of work, my forearm muscles do very little work, and yes I am aware that bicycling is one of the best exercise for working multiple muscle groups.The point I´m trying to make is that if you do Sudoku, cross-word puzzles or play chess, you will train only a part of your brain.Also, if you just do Sudoku slowly and find them extremely boring, you won´t gain much.Yes, you are doing a mentally stimulating activity, but it isn't very much of use.Think of it like walking, your muscles will get stronger, but not as intensively as they would do when you run.However, don´t get me wrong, doing Sudoku is probably among the best ways to boost brain power, but if the person doing it is not in to it, and finds it boring, it isn't helpful.

So, how to become more intelligent, how to increase your IQ? Many sites claim that they have some magic formula and offer an ebook or some sort of a super software. Countless tests have proven the software to be completely useless and everything you find from that ebook can likely be found free on the Internet.

There is a distinct difference increasing IQ and becoming smarter. However, while increasing your IQ, you will also get smarter, whilst getting smarter doesn't always mean higher IQ. IQ mainly measures person´s problem solving abilities.

One may think that instead of exercising, using the time to read a book will be more beneficial for intelligence. But it is important to realize that the time spent exercising often leads to greater learning, because productivity increases afterwards. If you use your body, it let´s lets your brain to relax and it clears your mind. After the exercise it is always easier to concentrate and therefore you pay more attention to whatever you are doing.

For me it is always extremely hard to concentrate, when I haven´t got enough sleep. It is always wise to get your brain the sleep it needs. Since without good attention it is very hard to get a decent result at an IQ test. It is always a good idea to sleep when you feel like it, because after a good sleep, work gets done more faster.

Eating well is never a bad idea. Eating reasonable amount of brain food is an excellent idea. As the Internet is filled with information on brain food, it would be wise to google the term.However, the top brain foods are considered to be (wild) salmon (and oily fish in general), cacao beans, tomatoes, blueberries, nuts, pumpkin seeds, sage and so on.

1.Read Books

Maybe the subtitle should say Read challenging books , not the top selling fiction books, because they aren't usually mentally stimulating.Instead read books that will improve your critical thinking and writing ability and also make you focus. I can bring some examples to the right of this text, reading classical novel, or a book from an astrophysicist or from a biologist. Reading science books can help IQ greatly, and most of them are quite easy to read as well, if you haven´t already read the Carl Sagan´s Cosmos , you should definitely read it some day, because it is likely that you have seen the series and the book is as great as the series. Instead of reading a book about astrology, why don´t you check out a book about astronomy, I can assure you that a book on astronomy or cosmology will be a lot better for your intelligence.

And then there are a lot of books on how to get smarter and on how to increase IQ, I will be honest, I think that most of them are crap. I try to avoid them, the only book that might fall in to that category that I was very very happy with is Garry Burnett´s learn to learn , it was years ago, but the book really exceeded my expectations in every way.It is available on amazon.com again, and also on amazon.co.uk, link to the book on amazon.co.uk.

2. Brain Training

Doing crossword-puzzles, sudoku, playing chess or checkers, doing any of these activities will boost your IQ. However, if you wish to train every part of your brain and wish to know, in which area you are stronger in and where you should improve, and if you wish that there was something that would actually record your history, record how you improve, then it all already exists. Don´t worry, I won´t say something like, buy this or that for 1,997 and be the smartest person in the world. Let me introduce you to Lumosity. Lumosity has a wide range of exercises, brain exercises, or in other words games, online video games that target different mental processes. Lumosity has partnered with researchers at Stanford University, Harvard, Columbia, UCsf and many others, these are just the some of the prestigious universities that lumosity works with side by side.

So what is Lumosity? Because I don´t wan´t this article to be a lumosity review I will keep it as short as I can and speak from my own experience. I have used lumosity for about a month now. The site is free to join, and you can play 5 different games for free.However, if you wish that your results will be recorded you´ll have to get a membership, and that is not free, but it is very cheap.For one year membership, the site asks about 80 dollars. Believe me it is not much for that kind of quality and customer service. If you become a paid member you´ll get access to dozens of more brain exercises, all developed with world´s leading neuroscientists. Besides that you will also see where you are doing well, and where you should put a little extra effort. And before you think that I will be making any profit by sending you to lumosity you can stop, because I am not. If you are interested, and you should be if you wish to get an higher iq and become smarter, you can find the site at www.lumosity.com . However, bear in mind that this is no miracle thing, it will be a great help for minimum effort, but it will take some time.