Is it possible and if so how would I increase my IQ?

Question

So far I've read a lot saying that you only have a set IQ and you can only utilize that certain IQ to make it seem like you actually have a higher one, but is it possible to actually increase it? After all, we don't use most of our brain. What if we did, or is there another reason why we don't use more than a small percentage?

Answer 1

Officially it doesn't change with age, but I think that 'improves with practice' and 'use it or lose it' both apply. Improve your vocabulary. As you read, look up words you don't know. Do crossword, Sudoku, and other puzzles.

The claims that we use only a small percentage of our brain are somewhat of an urban myth. Learn more about how the brain works and you'll see why. It is true, though, that most people don't make the best use of the brain they have. If you had a genius working for you, what would you have them do? Why aren't you doing it yourself?

Answer 2

Yes you can increase your IQ score, but as pointed out above this is not the same as increasing your general intelligence as a person. IQ is a bit like judging how good a fighter someone is by their body mass index i.e. is a pretty rough approximation. The two ways I know of increasing IQ are: 1/ Practice: Find a book or other source of IQ-type tests (verbal, math, visuo-spatial) and practice them. You don't need to do this very much before you increase your score by about 10 points. 2/ Nutrition: if your diet isn't all that healthy, simply taking a good quality multivitamin will help. Some people also say that omega 3:6:9 helps, but I have not seen any of this research. If you do both of these things you could potentially increase your IQ by about 1 standard deviation (15 points) which is a significant improvement. One final thing: don't get too hung up on IQ. Other things are just as (or more) important e.g. emotional intelligence. I personally don't judge people by their IQ unless I rely on them for IQ-specific tasks e.g. solving a crossword for me.

Answer 3

I think there is no true test to determine intelligence,all IQ tests I have taken have some questions based on what you learned in school. the best way to tackle the problem is to read about a lot of different things. logic, combined with knowledge should get you through.

Answer 4

IQ is more a measure of your logic rather than intelligence, of course one compliments the other, but by taking IQ tests more often, you should be able to get the hang of solving certain logical puzzles, and this would allow your brain to think more productively and with elevated common sense.

Try reading on a frequent basis also.. Books help the imagination develop, and I think a quote from Einstein is relevant here:

''Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world''