Intelligence

One set of brain exercises on the BrainHQ site claims to help improve your intelligence. What exactly does this mean? What is intelligence? And why could a computer game claim to help improve it?

Intelligence is a complex subject. In this reading, we learn about two types of intelligence; one which can grow throughout life (crystallized), another which tends to decline with age (fluid). Our reading looks at ways that we can improve fluid intelligence, which includes lifestyle and focused work. We also learn about the 9 types of intelligence, which demonstrates the complexity of intelligence (you may have great musical intelligence, but lack interpersonal intelligence). We will also learn of specific, research-based ways that we can improve our intelligence. At the conclusion of the reading is a link to Queendom, a site which has a number of non professional tests that you can do on the computer to see how intelligent you are.

What is Intelligence?

The medical definition of intelligence is the ability to learn, understand or deal with new or trying situations. It is the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate your environment or to think abstractly (as measured by intelligence tests) (Intelligence, 2012).

Intelligence is still a relatively new field (around 100 years ago). Most of us were exposed to intelligence by the IQ test (IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient), which was a way to measure a person’s cognitive abilities as compared to others of the same age. What became apparent was that there was more to the puzzle than your IQ score. This was because it was observed that two people with the same IQ could function quite differently, which led researchers to examine why it could be the case.

Categories of Intelligence

Psychologist Raymond Cattell was one of the first psychologists to describe intelligence as multi-faceted. He proposed the idea that intelligence can be divided into two categories: crystalized and fluid.

  • Crystallized intelligence was referred to as the ability to make use of acquired information or knowledge (what we may call “book smart”). It also draws upon what you have learned and continue to learn about the world around you. It increases with age. This improvement is reflected in the ability to make qualified decisions, which increases also as we age.

  • Fluid intelligence has less to do with information and more to do with the ability to be adaptable and solve problems (more like “street smarts”). People who have high levels of fluid intelligence are good at solving problems and thinking outside the box. It requires a sense of awareness and open-mindedness. Fluid intelligence declines with age.

Fluid intelligence is your ability to reason in an abstract way. Abstract reasoning is important to see things from other perspectives and to modify beliefs when you discover that your existing information is wrong. In the past, it was believed that fluid intelligence peaks in early adulthood, and then declines gradually.

It was thought that training could not improve fluid intelligence. However, research has begun to suggest that fluid intelligence is not set in adolescence, and may in fact be trained. This is especially important because as we age, our ability to reason abstractly decreases. The key to training fluid intelligence is in building working memory. The complexity of tasks involved in the formation of the working memory influences the amount of information which can be stored. These complex tasks require a type of mental control program that aids in creating rules for memory. Fluid intelligence is linked closely to the efficiency of constructing these mental control programs.

The Intelligence exercises that are done with BrainHQ work to improve working memory, and to manipulate pieces of information quickly. They help to build the mental control programs to aid memory, and build efficiency in using these mental programs.

Types of Intelligence


Besides the two categories of intelligence (fluid and crystallized), there has also been some research on multiple types of intelligence. American psychologist Howard Gardner was one to propose a multidimensional approach to intelligence. In his theory, there are 9 types of intelligence. His theory implies that you may be strong in some areas, but less so in others. People usually have a combination of these intelligence types. Within each type, you can have fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. His 9 types include:

            1. Visual Intelligence (picture smart)

            2. Linguistic Intelligence (story tellers)

            3. Logical and Mathematical Intelligence (math smart)

            4. Musical Intelligence (good with sounds)

            5. Bodily and Kinesthetic Intelligence (learn by moving)

            6. Interpersonal Intelligence (works well with others)

            7. Intrapersonal Intelligence (self-smart)

            8. Naturalistic Intelligence (nature smart)

            9. Existential Intelligence (deep thinker)


So, within the musical intelligence category, you can have crystallized intelligence (knowledge of music scores, composers, historic dates) and fluid intelligence (understanding of scales, genre, etc.).



Watch this easy-to-understand video about the 9 types of intelligence theorized by Howard Gardner. It helps explain the differences between each type (5:49 minutes).

Getting Smarter

Although we are born with a level of intelligence, our BrainHQ program and other research has shown that we can improve our own intelligence by taking part in certain activities. One of these is to use brain training tools such as BrainHQ, which have been shown to improve the fluid intelligence. But there are other things that you can do as well.

Believe in Your Brain and Have a Growth Mindset

Some research has suggested that our view of intelligence can affect school performance. If a student has a “growth mindset," they believe that intelligence is something that you improve by working hard. If they have a “fixed mindset," they believe that intelligence is innate. In a number of studies from various sources, it was found that students with the growth mindset were able to dramatically improve test scores when compared with those with a fixed mindset. In a follow-up study, researchers found that by giving children an article on how neurons continue to grow throughout life, and how effort can enhance this growth, they found that those children did better (they believed in the growth mindset) (Dweck, 2008).

What You Eat May Influence Your Intelligence (Aaronson, 2012)

We often discuss nutrition as a way to enhance our body and brain health. However, we are aware that it is difficult to qualify the benefits of food as it improves intelligence. In fact, evidence is at best anecdotal. With that in mind, let me reintroduce you to oatmeal. In 1997, the Quaker Oats box began to include the cholesterol-lowering effects of the cereal after the FDA found that whole grains reduced blood fat. Why would that improve your intelligence? Well, you are probably already aware of this, but what is good for the heart is also good for the brain. Since the brain requires about 20% of your oxygen intake, a strong cardiovascular system will help deliver that oxygen to the brain.

Oatmeal is only one of a growing number of food types which are said to improve the delivery of oxygen to your heart, thus improving your brain health and intelligence. Other things mentioned in research:

    • One alcoholic drink a day is linked to a lower risk of cognitive decline.

    • Glucose in ripe grapes and honey can lead to formation of memories.

    • The fat in fish (such as salmon) which can improve the cell membranes and therefore delivery of neurotransmitters to the brain.

    • Two food-based derivatives which boost mitochondria in the cell, which enable the cells to get rid of free radicals released when they are metabolized. These food-based derivatives are acetyl-L-carnitine (found in milk, meat and avocado) and lipoic acid (found in beef, spinach and broccoli).

    • Plant-based antioxidants flavonoid (found in brightly colored fruits and in green tea). Think berries, grape juice, red wine and turmeric.

    • Choline (found in eggs, liver and soybeans) may create more acetylcholine in the brain, thereby improving memory.

Exercise to Keep Your Brain Fit (Greider, 2014)


Like nutrition, exercise is enjoying a heyday in brain fitness. There has been much research, most of which found that physical activity was effective in improving brain function. The hypothesis is that exercise stimulates blood flow to the brain and nerve growth, which creates more complex neuron groups, as well as neurons which are stronger and better able to resist disease. Moderate aerobic exercise such as long brisk walks and stairs can accomplish this.

Meditate Often (Puff, 2013)

One observation that social scientists have discovered is that we may each have a natural “set point” in our brains for good and bad emotions. People accustomed to being happy have more activity in the front portion their frontal lobes, while those who worry have more activity in the right side of the frontal lobe. Even when there is a particularly good or a particularly bad event (winning the lottery, life changing accident), the brain returns to its normal state within six months.

However, studies have demonstrated that we can change our set point through meditation. One study suggested after only eight weeks of meditating for about one hour a day, six days a week, test subjects reported that they were happier. Follow-up tests showed that their set points had changed. They were also better at picking up emotional cues from others, and had more empathy.

Researchers also have performed MRIs of long time meditators and found that their brains were larger than the non-meditating counterparts. Other studies suggested that regular meditators don’t lose their gray matter as fast as non-meditators. The meditators seem to have thicker tissue in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for attention and control.

Use Technology Less (Chamorro-Premuzic, 2013)

So I wasn’t as enthralled with this one, although it makes perfect sense. As we recall from the earlier part of the handout, there are two types of intelligence: fluid and crystallized. Fluid intelligence is the way that we process complex information. Crystallized intelligence are things that we already know. We can increase our crystallized intelligence by increasing knowledge. However, technology has created a way for us to find information readily, without committing it to our memory. So, currently, our need to solve problems, for example, requires that we be able to connect to a place where we can retrieve an answer.

I find myself googling things that, in the past, I may have tried to figure out myself. In this way, I am using technology to gain knowledge of something that I cannot do, but also using the Internet to use the information in a creative way (fluid intelligence). If we rely on technology to process things for us, we will gradually lose our talent in processing information ourselves. As we are more dependent on technology, our main challenge will be in learning how to use it. So, ultimately, technology can decrease your brainpower. But, you can counter this by embracing technology and learning more about how it can feed your curious mind. For example, use technology to enhance your understanding of a concept, and then spend some time considering this newfound information.

Activity: Test Your IQ and/or Intelligence

Interested in learning more about these different types of Intelligence? Would you like to test your IQ or your emotional intelligence? The website “Queendom” offers some non-professional but fun ways to test them. Signing in is not necessary to take the tests. Try them free at: http://www.queendom.com/tests/testscontrol.htm?s=72

Works Cited

Aaronson, L. (2012, June 8). A Taste of Genius. Retrieved from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200506/taste-genius

Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2013, May 7). Is Technology Making Us Stupid (and smarter)? Retrieved from Psychology today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mr- personality/201305/is-technology-making-us-stupid-and-smarter

Clause, C.. Fluid Intelligence: Definition, Examples & Quiz. http://education- portal.com/academy/lesson/fluid-intelligence-definition-examples-quiz.html

Duncan J., et al (2012, 10 19) Task Rules, Working Memory and Fluid Intelligence. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22806448

Dweck, C. (2008). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Ballantine.

Greider, K. a. (2014, July 29). Making our Minds Last a Lifetime. Retrieved from Psychology today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200910/making-our-minds-last- lifetime

Hurley, D. (2012, 04 22). Can You Make Yourself Smarter? Retrieved from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/magazine/can-you-make-yourself- smarter.html?pagewanted=all

Intelligence. (2012). Retrieved from Merriam-webster.com: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intelligence

Puff, R. (2013, September 15). Meditation will make you smarter (and happier). Retrieved from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/meditation-modern- life/201309/meditation-will-make-you-smarter-and-happier