According to the Oxford Dictionary, an intelligence quotient, or IQ, is a score derived from one of several standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence . While there are many with exceptional IQs the highest IQ score ever in the guinness book of world records in 1985 was Marilyn vos Savant with an IQ of a whooping 186. Also renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has an IQ of 160 along with the brilliant Albert Einstein with a score of 160-190. But not to let your esteem down if one SD is 15 points, as is common in almost all modern tests, then 95% of the population are within a range of 70 to 130, and 98% are below 131.
Alternatively, two-thirds of the population have an IQ scores within one SD of the mean; i.e. within the range 85–115. Also, the average IQ of people is changing over time. Basically, people are gaining in modern industrialized societies. IQs are increasing three points per decade. In fact, there was an 18 point increase between 1947 and 2002.
So the average IQ of a 20 year old in 1947 was lower than the average IQ of a 20 year old in 2002. And since it’s already 2014, its all good news for us. While there are limits based on native intelligence levels, recent studies have shown that it’s possible to increase your intelligence.
People might wonder if it is possible to shape the brain in a different way to become more intelligent and improve your IQ. We don’t actually have an actual NZT pill right now like the one they show in the movie “Limitless” but there are ways one can actually boost their IQ score so here we have the top 10 ways to improve your IQ.
10. Limit your TV time
This can be a heart break for a lot of us but it’s true. Television puts you in a frozen mental state for a prolonged period of time every day and as an idle physical state isn’t good for the body an idle mental state isn’t very good for the brain’s health either. You are better off limiting your TV viewing time and engaging in all or some of the above activities.
Utilize the time instead to read a book, play a new game or talk to a knowledgeable friend. By doing this, you are exposing your mind to different experiences. These tips if practiced daily will enrich the mind and enhance your overall IQ.
9. Have a variety of hobbies
Having an interesting array of different hobbies helps you to gain considerable knowledge about these fields. Hobbies like fishing, mountaineering and trekking give you an in-depth knowledge and enhance your knowledge repertoire in these areas thus boosting your IQ. Make sure you have at least 3-4 different hobbies.
This also helps you to build interconnected neural pathways and as scientists put it a”smart” person is someone with a lot of interconnected neural pathways. So way to go adventure lovers. Go try out and you might surely improve your IQ, maybe?
8. Healthy diet habits
Researchers have found that diet does play a role in IQ and brain development throughout childhood. The degree to which IQ is affected later in life by food choices isn’t as well documented. However, if you want to boost your intelligence, it is best to avoid eating processed foods.
Individuals who eat a lot of processed foods tend to have lower intelligence scores than people who eat healthier non-processed items. The researchers found that diet influenced IQ regardless of other factors.
On a deeper scale, foods with amino acids make neurotransmission possible as they’re literally the building blocks of the neurons in our brains. Consume a healthy amount to improve brain function. Nuts, fish, soy protein, and eggs are all great sources for your daily diet. These will not just nourish the brain but make it better at doing the things it does.