Ways to increase your intellect/brainpower?

Post Reply New Topic

I started out as a really scrawny guy. Now, I am a built guy.


I am wondering if there are methods of increasing brainpower? Can I go from my below average intellect to becoming really intelligent like people on this forum? Are there supplements/food I can use to aid me in my quest?

Simple.

Do things that are mentally challenging. It's just like lifting weights. The harder you push your mind the better the results. Just remember, just as body type determines your muscle mass (not everyone can be the next Mr. Universe), your own neurology will place boundaries on your abilities. But I wold guess most people never find the edges of their cognitive capacity.

Unless there is some barometer to measure cognitive capacity?

I don't know of any infallible measure of cognitive ability. That's not really your question anyway. Do you know how large your bicep can be after years of focused weight training? You might be able venture a decent guess based on your body type, but you don't know until you do the years of training. Same with your cognitive abilities. Maybe you can know from the beginning that you will never be the next Einstein, but you don't know your actual abilities until you push your own boundaries.

Try this Lumosity. Some of the games are free. But to take full advantage you have to subscribe ($80 for 1 year, not bad). With the subscription you can play every game, but more importantly it will allow you to go through specific training and be able to measure your progress. PLUS, its fun! Try it, I love it!

You could try Omega 3 supplements. Or eat lots of fish & foods rich in nutrients. Stay away from too much processed foods.

http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucl ... 91273.aspx

Work on your critical thinking skills. When faced with a complex question, look at it from many sides. Learn to ask questions that explore the initial question deeply. Never assume you know the answer. Always assume more can be learned; that the question can be analyzed in greater detail. Always question yourself. Always question your own assumptions.

Study. Think of relevant questions. Be critical. Read literature. Take notes. You can also read a great work of literature, like War and Peace, then look and see what Sparknotes has to say about it. Sparknotes is a great way to study what you have read. You can visit Sparknotes website and search for a title and view the Sparknotes for free
If you want to be a math whiz get a text book and start working the problems inside everyday.
If science is your cup of tea, start reading journals, papers, magazines devoted to different fields.
Start playing chess on your computer.
Also, communicate with others who are intellectual already or have a desire to be, also. This will help your mind consider what you have studied so that you may articulate points to another with skill
You can create a notebook on your computer or get a spiral one from Wal Mart and jot down questions when you think of them and answers when they appear in your mind. That way you have this creative tablet. Just thinking about questions and answers can lead to more intriguing questions and answers. Before you know it, you've solved the mysteries of the universe in that one notebook.

This is absolutely true. First, READ.

Second, read things that challenge your brain. Find subjects (as many as possible) that interest you and once you've grounded yourself in the basics of each one, read books on those subjects that are above your current level, so that you have to backtrack and reread some parts to comprehend them. Force yourself to do that and not only will you learn a great deal, you will increase your cognitive ability to understand what you read and increase your vocabulary.

Really? I just mean.. I'm surprised, I bash into mine all the time, it's called shutdown.

I agree with this 100%. I seem to understand things and have answers to things from meditation. I don't know how I got the answers, but they are there. Meditation is good in many ways.

That's fascinating, thanks for sharing. An excerpt for those disinclined to click:



The more research that's done into the effects of meditation on neurology and health, the more clear the benefits become. Maybe some day people will stop thinking we're wackos for espousing the wonders of meditation.

"Let me get this straight. You sit and stare at a wall for twenty minutes every morning?"
"Yeah, it's great!"

I read and try to learn everything. I constantly think, try to create and analyze the world around me.
There's also brain training exercises which you can do online or buy in a book shop.
I need to do some speed math exercises so I'll have to look into that.
Sudoku is a good game. Also brain training on the Wii or DS. You can even get them on your phone.

Then is no miracle food or formula. Just eat healthy and exercise and don't stop using your brain.
I take Omega 3 for focus. But as far as memory goes I need stimulant medication, although I can't take that anymore.

It really depends on what you want to be better at.
A couple of years ago I was way behind people my own age, younger and of course people with AS. But I just read and watched all I could about science and history. I even taught myself year 10 math from a book. I taught myself how to write novels too. And physics.
I never stop learning.
It helps to do your own projects that help you learn these skills. I only wanted to learn about neuroscience to write a blog, which I never got around to writing. But yeah, I know a bit about that now.

Not sure how relevant this is but I've found drinking herbal teas seem to make my dreams more vivid. I usually drink a mixture of red clover, echinacea, rose hips, ginger and lemongrass. Sometimes I drink brahmi tea which is considered a brain tonic (among many other things). It is absolutely awful but does seem to make my mind clearer. It is available in capsules but is expensive.

Good health in general should increase brain function. Your brain is a mass of neurones which are formed from the food/water you eat/drink and the air that you breathe. Your body's ability to repair and strengthen neurones depends heavily on diet.

I also used to practice everything I did both right and left handed because I heard on a psychology program that this stimulates both sides of the brain. Not sure if it is true but it is very useful to increase your ambidexterity regardless.

Yes, by studying. By posting ALOT so you practice communications, and eloquence, for forming your own ideas. You defend your ideas your core beliefs your unique youness, with logic and reason, instead of resorting to flame wars and trollism. You earn a following, so stick around here. You can be intellgent with every fauciet of life. Even Videogames, if you post about it. What has the story of the game meant for you, or why do you like said game. For me, I enjoy team killing, and I wrote a descrption of why. That it has childish whimisical impish no harm done, joy.

Talk about your hobies. Why have YOU chosen this hobbies. Introduce us to your Aspie World, your interpretation of the world. Perhaps we might be compelled to try out and add to our repetoir of stuff. I for myself wish copy the holy bible in Chinese by hand and put them strategically in China, where ever I live or work. I have since, already defaced Chinese money, with Mao proclaiming "John 3:16. For God Loved the World, he gave his only Begotten son (Birthed, sired), so that those who believe in him shall have ever lasting life" Now the reason I do this, is fustration and bordom, mainly boredom, as I haven't mastered the language skills to read Chinese video games. Fustration at not being able to tell my Friends on Facebook, about my adventures, fustration that FREE CHINA (Hong Kong and Macao, and Taiwan), there is no censorship and fast internet, and when I have to work it's slower than the poisonous Heart beat of Primier Fool Jin Tao (Hu Jin Tao).

I also have a collection of Geeky toys. Orginally bought for my little sister, who rather play with her wacky Teletubby plushy. :_( and another menangre of Geeky stuff. I even helped the Parateam Germany Coaching team Geek out, I had a spare lable on my blue Vancouver 2010 jacket, with the Paragames. They said they'd geek out and put it over their desk of the Parawinter team. Sniff Sniff, I'm part of the Geek world now. I even kept the paper work from my bone Marrow. donation I was one in 7 Billion people who matched this dying woman in Hong Kong. orginal stem cell operation right here baby.... Now that's Nerdy....

The so called intellect is just a word that means Magical thinking, or Imagination. Start with a hobby that you like, Ah ha! what about body building. This IS INTELLECT, tell us all about building a body, about increased air and the effects on stress and depression. I know that a healtier body that's working right would feel better, and not acts as an addendium to our already growing problems. How Has working out HELPED YOU. The body is a wonderful work of bio engineering. And you're already intellgent enought to manipulate it as Ancient wise Kung Fu physicans have studied for eons.

I might add you may want to look up Chinese Veggies, as part of your diet. Those things detoxes and turns your body into a germ killer. I should suggest: Bitter Mellon, Star Fruit, and Gwai Gees (These sweet olives). Crysanthium and Dandelion Tea. You treat your body like a fast car. You maintain it. You're already smarter than 3/4 of these people. Here in China???... Well there's an old chinese bar joke to describe what kind of potency of liqour they drink. I'm presume they drink the same quality in Russia. (with a low Life Expectancy).

The joke goes: 3 mice go into a bar, an American, a Canadian (insert Brit if you're british), and a Chinese mouse. ummmm they're exchange students. They brag who can drink the most, Bak Jao (this Bacarrdi like drink, with potency that can even run a car, and still be drunk, especially uphere in the North, you need to keep warm, so you eat Suicide peppers (this is kidnapping making lips numb potency, or Jar Jar Binks toungue goes limp because he stuck his head between two electrodes quality). Anyways, back to joke. The American finishes just one thumbler, he goes to pee, and bangs his head on the counter, the Canadian laughes at him (Canadians like their drinks), he drinks two and does the same thing. The Chinese mouse, doesn't even notice he's busy running around with a knife saying Where's the Cat?! !?!?!

Or people who over eat.... again, China is experiencing a chubby children problem, as the middle class grows, and China slowly enjoys what their fellow Asian teens are experiencing, they're out of control with these new luxuries. (so far it's just Burger King, KFC, and Mc Donald's), still very sparce though (compared to Japan, or even Hong Kong). So you're already smarter because you know all the technical data of kinesiologly to stay healthy and enjoy a long life. long comfortable life.

I'm soo going to take up running around my apartment and the court yard, (this huge square area outside, I'd love to just burn off bordom, communist china is a very very dull place. no Joy here what so ever!).