Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

You can increase your intelligence

blogs.scientificamerican.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 120 posts

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#71

Post by Tehnix »

gohrt wrote: post #9
cliveowen wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True, but since virtually no one takes IQ tests on a daily basis, the IQ test is still a valid measure of one's intelligence (or potential, I don't really know what IQ is supposed to measure).

People who score high on IQ tests do take IQ tests (or similar puzles on a daily basis). > I don't really know what IQ is supposed to measure Neither does anyone else.

>People who score high on IQ tests do take IQ tests (or similar puzles on a daily basis).

not necessarily, on an official test, I scored 140 (which I'd consider high), and I don't do any puzzles or similar at all.

that said, obviously an IQ test is not perfect, but, I'd argue a high score is a good indication that a person is relatively intelligent. Middle scores and below can be attributed to a lot of other things (distractions, etc etc), but, the high score is still indicative of your brains capabilities. If that made sense?

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#72

Post by interstitial »

arrfscarf wrote: post #16
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.

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

Have you read Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art"?

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#73

Post by [deleted] »

narrator wrote: post #30
darkmighty wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it's been known for a while that IQ works in a "good enough" fashion -- once it's good enough there are so many other things more important. A good example is of course Einstein, which was tested and had a normal IQ.

I don't think he ever took an IQ test and that anecdote he failed math was made up[1]. His estimated IQ was 160[2]: 1. http://physics.about.com/b/2007/09/19/physics-myth-month-ein... 2. http://www.cse.emory.edu/sciencenet/mismeasure/genius/resear...

[deleted]

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#74

Post by fersho311 »

JakeSc wrote: post #52
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?

I started with this 10k memory competition, did really poorly, and decided to continue after the competition because it seemed to me helping me alot. http://www.memrise.com/course/44056/the-10k-memory-competiti...

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#75

Post by fersho311 »

d0mine wrote: post #62
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…

What do you think about the research that says that solving crosswords only improves your solving crosswords ability and nothing more i.e., memorizing a deck of cards might only improve your performance on that particular task and everything else is just an illusion?

If you lift weights, will it only improve your ability to lift weights? ;)

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#76

Post by fersho311 »

avtar wrote: post #58
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…

I started here: http://www.memrise.com/course/44056/the-10k-memory-competiti...

Memrise helped me get me off my feet, and then I created my own objects/actions for each card because I had no idea who half of those people are.

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#77

Post by [deleted] »

tadfisher wrote: post #69
sillysaurus2 wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure this isn't placebo effect? I.e. you've always had this capacity, but the reason you're having success is because you're now focused on utilizing it. That's somewhat different from not having the capacity in the first place.

If one has to train themselves to utilize this ability, is there a difference?

[deleted]

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#78

Post by fersho311 »

gamegoblin wrote: post #54
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.

Haha! I do this unconsciously because all of my contacts are on my google voice app and everytime someone calls me on my phone (and not my google voice number) I don't see their name :)

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#79

Post by super-serial »

lgieron wrote: post #46
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.

In my opinion, the urge to procrastinate is just our brain telling us that the kind and amount of effort we're demanding from it is not natural. People aren't meant to spend 40+ hours a week sitting behind a desk and concentrating on stuff they have little connection with. Marx wrote about that (the alienation of workers) 150 years ago.

As someone who has spent entire months not doing work, just doing things like studying Japanese, watching TV shows and playing chess online... I have to disagree.

I think the source of my motivation problem is having the feeling that what I do 'Does Not Matter.' Some months I can't shake this feeling and get absolutely nothing done. Other months I feel like I can take over the world - and end up making the progress of a normal programmer.

I "want" to implement my ideas, but there's not enough feedback or incentive to "make" me do it. There's also too many options. I have 100 ideas, which should I pick? If I haven't been successful with any ideas in the past, what's the point in dedicating myself to this specific one? Does it even matter? No one noticed last week when I wasted all my time (when not at my part-time job)... why would anyone care this week?

I made a chrome extension that helps me stay on task when motivated... but what I actually need is software that can help build my motivation. Anyone know of something?

Re: You can increase your intelligence

#80

Post by gwern »

fersho311 wrote: post #75
d0mine wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you think about the research that says that solving crosswords only improves your solving crosswords ability and nothing more i.e., memorizing a deck of cards might only improve your performance on that particular task and everything else is just an illusion?

If you lift weights, will it only improve your ability to lift weights? ;)

The brain is not a muscle, as tempting as the analogy may be.
Post reply on HN