Intelligence Quotient also known as IQ is a score derived from one of several standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence. A score between 90 and 110, or the median plus or minus 10, indicates average intelligence. A score above 130 indicates exceptional intelligence and a score below 70 may indicate mental retardation.
Below are 5 ways to boost your brain power and improve your IQ
1. TAKING CREATINE AS A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT
A 2003 research published in Proceedings B, a learned journal published by the Royal Society and undertaken by scientists at the University of Sydney and Macquarie University in Australia discovered that taking creatine, a compound found in muscle tissue, as a dietary supplement can give a significant boost to both working memory and general intelligence. Dr. Caroline Rae who led the research explained that the level of creatine supplementation chosen was 5g per day as this is a level that has previously been shown to increase brain creatine levels. Creatine raises the energy levels available for computation in your brain.
2. DUAL N-BACK GAME
A 2008 study by Professor Susanne M. Jaeggi found that young adults who practiced the Dual N-back game showed improvement in a fundamental cognitive ability known as “fluid” intelligence: the capacity to solve novel problems, to learn, to reason, to see connections and to get to the bottom of things. The implication was that playing the game literally makes people smarter. In dual n-back training, both a verbal and a visual stream of items are presented simultaneously. Her research discovered that playing 25 minutes every day will raise your IQ by an impressive 4 points.
3. PLAY ACTION VIDEO GAMES
A 2014 University of Rochester shows for the first time that playing action video games improves not just the skills taught in the game, but learning capabilities more generally. In the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Daphne Bavelier, a research professor in brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester found that people who play action games are better learners and this makes them excel at many tasks. She also noted that they become better learners by playing the fast-paced action games. Professor Bavelier also explained that in order to sharpen its prediction skills, our brains constantly build models or ‘templates’ of the world. The better the template, the better the performance. And now we know playing action video game actually fosters better templates. So playing Call of Duty and other action games is good for your brain.
4. SCRABBLE
A 2011 University of Calgary study found that playing scrabble makes you smart. The researchers discovered that competitive Scrabble players are able to increase visual word recognition — the ability to read individual words — well into adulthood. The study author Ian Hargreaves, a graduate student from the University of Calgary explained that playing scrabble can actively improve word recognition in an adult mind. So if you want to improve your brain power, start playing scrabble today.
5. EXERCISE
A 2009 study published the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) discovered that Young adults who are fit have a higher IQ and are more likely to go on to university. The study involved 1.2 million Swedish men doing military service who were born between 1950 and 1976. The research group analysed the results of both physical and IQ tests when the men enrolled. The study shows a clear link between good physical fitness and better results for the IQ test. According to the researchers, being fit means that you also have good heart and lung capacity and that your brain gets plenty of oxygen.
Jake