Improving your IQ
Most people would agree that an improved IQ, i.e. becoming smarter is a good thing. The technical term for this is "Cognitive Enhancement" and nearly 7 million results on google suggests that it's a popular subject.With all the publicity about the recent Nintendo game that trains your brain. (Hint- If anyone from Nintendo wants to supply a review copy, I'll review it here) its appropriate to look at what you can do to improve your IQ.
This article in New Scientist suggests 11 ways to improve your IQ.
Take modafinil- it can keep your mind alert and you awake for up to 90 hours. I could have done with that when I worked several all night sessions back in my games programming days.
Eat Breakfast and lots of high fibre food (That's called roughage if you're over 40!).
Listen to Mozart's music- I suspect Bach as well, some of his contrapuntal music perhaps?
Take up puzzles (I love Sudoku- must get into cryptic crosswords) and give your brain a mental workout. (Or buy the Nintendo game)- this improves your working memory.
Use mnemmonics to help you remember more. (I bought a book on this but can't remember where it is.. groan)
Get plenty of sleep. Now I manage on 6 hours a night - 8 would be better.
Physical exercise. Moving swiftly on (in my case) seems best here.
Avoid Distractions. I'd add my own thoughts here. I write computer software for a living. I find I am best first thing in the morning- some tasks take a lot of 'Brain Power'. By late afternoon I am starting to wane mentally and take longer to create or debug code. A pair of noise reducing headphones (you can buy them online for £25 now- e.g. Creative HN-700)-playing familiar music at a low level.
Positive feedback. I'm not sure how you measure this but according to New Scientist it can improve memory, enhance Musicians and Dancers techniques and improve your sex life. Anyone want to lend me a neurofeedback device?
Finally, my own totally unproven hypothesis. Eat chocolate. (Preferably dark stuff).
No comments:
No trackbacks:
Trackback link:
Please enable javascript to generate a trackback url