Boost cognitive health, performance, and power! Sound good?
Neuroscientist Kristin Willeumier, PhD, promises that in her book “Biohack Your Brain.”
In it, she provides details of simple ways that we can quicken our mind and make it more flexible, for greater intelligence. Turns out that there are more than one kind of intelligence.
Intelligence 1
When I cut out fabric and sew a blouse, I am using my knowledge of sewing and skills in using scissors, pins, measuring tape, and a sewing machine. I have accumulated knowledge through reading patterns and through experience in making clothing.
We often associate intelligence with the accumulation of knowledge, facts and skills. This represents a kind of intelligence called crystalized intelligence. That is only one kind of intelligence we can develop.
Intelligence 2
Sometimes, I have to solve problems when I don’t know that much about a subject.
For example, the tension rod holding my curtain fell down twice in one day, the second time falling on my head! Ouch! That was motivation to do something, to solve this problem. I wanted the no-longer tight tension rod to continue to hold up the curtain in my doorway. I wanted to do it intelligently.
I thought about replacing the tension rod, but I had done that once before, and it only lasted a few years before it lost its tension. I wanted a more permanent solution. I reasoned that if I had a support on either side below the rod, it would hold up no matter what.
I went to the curtain rod section of Home Depot and looked at solutions. I did not find what I had in mind. Then I went to the hardware section, and found holders for closet rods. That is precisely what I needed! And the inside diameter matched the size of my curtain rod!
When I started, I knew little, yet I continued to work towards solving my problem. I reasoned that if what I was looking for was not in the curtain rod section, it might be somewhere else. Being open, I looked further. And I found a solution.
This is an example of fluid intelligence, reasoning to solve problems, regardless of what we know to begin.
Intelligence 3
Thirdly, there is the famous emotional intelligence.
When my landlord came over complaining, disgusted with the state of the world, finding fault with people he encountered, and resenting how he had been treated, I had a choice of how to respond.
Without invalidating him, I showed him the sunnier side of life and started him appreciating a few little things. When he left, he was acting friendly and no longer complaining. I’m sure that had a positive ripple effect.
This is an example of responding to an individual with emotional intelligence.
Developing Intelligence
Is it possible to develop all these kinds of intelligence at once? Is there a brain training game that will do so?
You don’t have to invest in any fancy technology to boost cognitive health and performance.
Studies have shown that reading a novel, long-form narrative, will develop these three intelligences.
Yes, at least 30 minutes a day spent involved in the stories and characters of a novel makes you smarter in all three ways!
This is way different from the reading you do of texts, emails, and social media. Perhaps you have shortened your attention span by sticking to only short bits of reading.
By turning to reading a novel a short time each day, about 30 minutes, you can preserve and develop your brainpower!
Researchers found both short-term and longer-term effects from this kind of reading. Yet, it is helpful to read every day.
How’s that for low tech brain training?
What novel are you going to pick up?
