Increase Your IQ (Part 3/n): Bodybuilding For The Brain

It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it. - Oscar Wilde

For many years, mainstream scientists believed human intelligence cannot be increased through our own initiative. Fortunately, research has taken a turn for the better. The old belief was questioned and debunked by many curious truth-seekers, one of whom is Dr. John Pelley.

The human brain is a marvelous device with an embedded ability to regenerate. We can enhance its potential by following the proper steps. Dr. Pelley stated that in the long run, the people who work on the margin of failure achieve better results. In other words, the prize is outside one's comfort zone.

The requirements for success are numerous. The most important is endurance, which many people nowadays lack. We can overcome obstacles only through deliberate effort. Another thing most people miss: establish a clear goal. Know where you're heading and stay focused.

Here are a few simple tricks to "grow" intelligence and enhance the process of neurogenesis:

01) Learn and practice continuously! Learning a new language (try Duolingo) and mathematics is a great choice.

02) Know what to eat and what you're best off without! Read parts 1 & 2 of "Increase your intelligence":

a) Increase Your IQ (Part 1/n)

b) Increase Your IQ (Part 2/n)

03) Get adequate rest. Even minor sleep deprivation is very detrimental to mental health.

04) Carefully choose your words, thoughts, and emotions. Consciously guard the subconscious mind against intruders.

05) Develop planning and decision-making skills.

06) A trick I found useful: ignore dopamine baits, such as social media, news, junk food, sweets, and skipping training sessions.

07) Repeat the process!

According to Dr. Pelley (video at 5:20), physical muscle fibers grow in size. The process is called "branching," because dendrites look somewhat similar to weed roots:

Dr. Pelley says "branching" is equivalent to an increase in intelligence. It is our computing power. Our goal is to extend and multiply those branches (dendrites). All growth (muscular and cellular) occurs during (deep) sleep. Dendrites are not an exception. However, if branching is not followed by further growth (a.k.a. learning), newly formed dendrites get pruned. That is the reason why consistency matters.

During (deep) sleep, the brain replays all experiences of the previous day and memorizes only those that are connected with emotions. In other words, the brain rejects emotionless memories to make storage space for more important information. That is why we easily forget things we have learned at school.

You learn what you care about. - Dr. John Pelley