Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Intelligence is a broad concept and it is difficult to pinpoint a certain number or a single criterion to measure it. Rather, intelligence is defined as the ability to learn, to reason abstractly, to adapt, and to respond to situations and solve problems using one’s obtained knowledge and skills.



Although most researchers agree that genetics play an essential role in an individual’s level of intelligence, scientists also stress that both heredity and environment interact in various ways to contribute to intelligence.



Several environmental factors influence intelligence. Extremely poor (not economically) environments with an absence of mentally stimulating experiences can interfere with the realization of one’s mental potential whereas environments rich in books, reading, and activities that foster mental growth can boost intelligence.



With consistent brain training, incredible improvements can be achieved in mental function and memory.



In simple English; you can make yourself smarter.



"It is a common misconception that mental function normally declines with aging. A major reason for a decline in mental sharpness seen in some elderly is a lack of involvement in academic and intellectual affairs, or using one’s mind every day.



"The brilliant economist Ludwig von Mises continued to produce great economic works even into his nineties," said Dr. Russel Blaylock, an American board certified neurosurgeon.



"History is filled with stories of brilliant men and women who continued to produce intellectual work into their advanced years. No doubt, a significant part of their ability to preserve their mental acuity was their unending involvement in intellectual pursuits.



"The brain is much like a muscle; the more you exercise it the more powerful it becomes. Thinking is the exercise of the mind," added Dr. Blaylock.



You can enhance your mental prowess by exercising your brain every day, and there are plenty of interesting ways to give your brain a good work out.

Reading is the number one way to keep the brain healthy and active.



"Reading is very important. We should enhance reading among children and assign one hour of free reading, aside from reading their school books,each day in our homes for children and parents too," said Adel Batterjee, founder of Dar Al-Thikr Schools.  



Working on crossword puzzles and hunting for words in a word search game is fun and is an excellent way to improve memory and language skills.



Engage in social activities that challenge your thoughts, expose you to different opinions and perspectives, and require some study, research, and participation on your part. Join a book club, a debate club, or a study group.



Some groups discuss and divulge in Islamic topics and the meanings of the verses of the Qur'an and others address topics such as project management, business administration, and leadership. Usually these groups meet once a week after reading.



Play brain training games on-line that are great for adults and fun for kids.



Be consistent and play them daily so you can gradually but surely progress and heighten your mental skills.



These are games that you and your kids can enjoy playing guilt free.  Lumosity is the name of a leading online brain exercise program that improves memory, attention, mental speed, problem-solving, and intelligence. Lumosity’s exercises are based on the latest findings in neuroscience and have been backed by studies conducted at Harvard, Stanford, and University of California at Berkeley.   



Several studies have shown that school students between the ages of six and 14 who were required to use Lumosity brain training each day performed better in academic testing than students who received no brain training.



A Stanford University study showed that Lumosity training can improve the brain’s executive functions; which include short-term memory, ability to adapt to change, planning, and attention.



People who suffer from executive function deficits are mentally inflexible. Imagine that you’re taking a road trip and your group has planned every stop in advance when, mid-trip, an unexpected storm starts.



An intelligent person would quickly process the new conditions and plan an alternate route but someone with impaired executive function would struggle to adapt. Situations like this arise every day, which makes any lack in this part of intelligence so damaging to quality of life.



Depend on your brain’s memory to remember phone numbers, grocery shopping lists, and important appointments rather than writing them down on paper or saving them on smart phone devices.



According to Dr. Blaylock, over reliance on calculators and new electronic technologies keep us from fully using our brains and has made us mentally lazy.



Learning a foreign language makes you smarter, more perceptive, attentive, and a better problem-solver.



It improves your memory, multi-tasking skills, and decision making skills. Learning a new language and becoming fluent in it can stave off dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.



Switch off the television. Our brains exhibit electrical waves that can be detected by an electroencephalograph, or EEG.



When we are awake, alert, and focused, our brain exhibits beta waves. If we meditate or relax, our brains move into an alpha wave pattern and when we are asleep our brains exhibit delta waves.



By studying brain wave patterns, researchers have found that the brain seems to turn off when watching television, as it exhibits slow alpha waves and even bordering on delta waves.



Too much television has a negative impact on mental functions and researchers have argued that extended television viewing in children leads to decreased learning ability and decreased attention span.