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You can increase your intelligence

blogs.scientificamerican.com

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Re: You can increase your intelligence

#51

Post by zxcdw »

csomar wrote: post #38
ekm2 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People do not go to the gym to increase their height.They are focused on things like increasing the size of their bicep,so the weak/strong analogy holds better.

I was not talking about biceps size, but about who is stronger in a fight. The bigger guy has an advantage. See the other child comment as it explains that it can work the other way around (bigger being a disadvantage)

Your comparison is completely silly as it relies on something which can't be changed by determinated effort, unlike human brain and mental skills/capabilities and our physical body.

The comparison of going to gym holds perfectly, as anybody can go there and bulk themselves way, way bigger, fitter and more muscular with effort than almost anybody else who doesn't go there. Same is definitely possible with human brain as numerous studies show that after exposure to a new skill, learning it does physical changes to our brain(neuroplasticity) and thus modifies it to work better/more optimally, making it more capable.

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#52

Post by JakeSc »

fersho311 wrote: post #50

Every day, I train my memory by memorizing a pack of cards. I started because I had lousy memory and I wanted to improve it. I have been going at it for a few weeks now, memorizing and shuffling a deck of cards (twice a day). I can now memorize a deck of cards in just a little over 3 minutes (I started at a painful 19 minutes). Have I noticed am improvement in my memory? Yes, and much much more. What I've come to rea…

How did you decide to embark on this challenge? Do you have any online resources that you can link to so we can learn more?

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#53

Post by sitkack »

nostromo wrote: post #32
arrfscarf wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Focus! Here I am wasting time/procrastinating. There certain days, that no matter what I do, consistent concentration is impossible.

I wish my brain had a switch. Monday: follow crazy ideas, absorb everything, novelty hunting. Tuesday - Friday: focus.

Right now that switch is ADD medication, meditation, exercise (in order of increasing effectiveness and access).

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#54

Post by gamegoblin »

fersho311 wrote: post #50

Every day, I train my memory by memorizing a pack of cards. I started because I had lousy memory and I wanted to improve it. I have been going at it for a few weeks now, memorizing and shuffling a deck of cards (twice a day). I can now memorize a deck of cards in just a little over 3 minutes (I started at a painful 19 minutes). Have I noticed am improvement in my memory? Yes, and much much more. What I've come to rea…

My personal memory training challenge is that I don't keep anyone's name attached to their number in my phone. It has made me quite proficient at memorizing 10 digit numbers.

It is also a minimal first defense at would-be over-the-shoulder snoopers who see who I am messaging.

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#55

Post by gugol »

csomar wrote: post #12
ekm2 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you suggesting that if both weak and strong people go to the gym regularly then the differences between them will remain?

Not weak and strong, but rather big and small. If someone is 1.6m and another one is 1.8m; the second guy obviously has an advantage (being a bigger guy). Sure the 1.6m can beat him. (exercise often, learn fighting techniques...) but if they both exercise in the same amount, the difference will remain.

So the taller guy could always lift more weight?

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#56

Post by gugol »

csomar wrote: post #12
ekm2 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you suggesting that if both weak and strong people go to the gym regularly then the differences between them will remain?

Not weak and strong, but rather big and small. If someone is 1.6m and another one is 1.8m; the second guy obviously has an advantage (being a bigger guy). Sure the 1.6m can beat him. (exercise often, learn fighting techniques...) but if they both exercise in the same amount, the difference will remain.

So the taller guy could always lift more weight?

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#57

Post by emiliobumachar »

bicknergseng wrote: post #35
auctiontheory wrote: post #14

Most of us on HN have enough intelligence. Other qualities (focus, dedication, ambition, sociability) will have much greater impact on our success in life.

You forgot luck.

I don't think one can increase that.

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#58

Post by avtar »

fersho311 wrote: post #50

Every day, I train my memory by memorizing a pack of cards. I started because I had lousy memory and I wanted to improve it. I have been going at it for a few weeks now, memorizing and shuffling a deck of cards (twice a day). I can now memorize a deck of cards in just a little over 3 minutes (I started at a painful 19 minutes). Have I noticed am improvement in my memory? Yes, and much much more. What I've come to rea…

"I almost never misplace my things (keys, wallet, etc) anymore. Mind blocks like, "what was the company's name? I used to know it...", happens less frequently and I can recollect facts much faster. Most importantly though, I have seen a dramatic improvement in the speed I learn and understand things."

This piqued my interest. I find myself forgetting simple things all the time and it's very unsettling given that I'm relatively young. Like JakeSc, I too would be interested in learning more about your experience and any resources that you could possibly share.

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#59

Post by [deleted] »

tokenadult wrote: post #5

The article kindly submitted here is from 2011. There is a new article, from today, http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/2013/10/... that follows up on recent cognitive training research. The research conclusions are becoming more and more nuanced, and thus are better and better guides to practical things you can do for your own intelligence boosting.

[deleted]
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