Can you improve your IQ?

What is your IQ? This question is in vogue and is clearly demonstrated by the nearly half a million results we get when we search for “IQ” on Google. The measurement of intelligence has been a challenge of psychology for more than a century, whenWilliam SternHe first used the term “IQ”, the famous and controversial “IQ”. This concept arose as an attempt to measure human intelligence through different standardized tests and thus be able to place each individual in a certain position compared to the population. But are there one or more intelligences?

Intelligence and IQ have not been without controversy. There are various theories about how many intelligences there are.
In 1904 the psychologist Charles Spearman proposed the existence of a general intelligence that would have a high hereditary component and that therefore would be quite stable over time. He also distinguished crystallized intelligence, which has to do with the knowledge acquired through experience, from fluid intelligence, which would be more related to the ability to solve new situations in which we do not have previous experience. This last type of intelligence is the one that has been associated to a greater degree with academic and professional performance.
However, this view of intelligence was challenged when Howard Gardner published his book “Frames of Mind” in 1983, where he presented his theory of multiple intelligences . Gardner defined up to eight different types of intelligence, ranging from logical-mathematical or linguistic, more classical, to musical intelligence, interpersonal or naturalistic. According to the author, intelligence is more than academic performance, and defines it as the ability to solve problems and create valuable products .

 

Can you be smarter?

According to Gardner’s innovative conception, all types of intelligence are capable of being worked on and developed. Although not many yet, there are studies that support the fact that a person can increase their intelligence thanks to training , even in adulthood, contrary to what was thought a few decades ago. An example is the work developed by a team from the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who has shown that intelligence (measured through a logical reasoning test) can be improved by practicing working memory exercises. Other programs that have achieved the same result have used attentional and executive functions, creativity and even video games.
It is clear that we still have a lot to know about these issues that attract us so much.However, it seems that it makes sense to think that, somehow, we can go beyond what the genes seem to have given each of us , since the role of the environment is becoming stronger every day in the definition of our intellectual capacities. The philosophy of ” don’t settle, a better brain is possible ” is gaining ground.

Marisa Fernández, Senior Neuropsychologist, Unobrain.