Scientists have proven that the human brain is plastic, you can train it as much as you like. Intelligence is a developed cognitive system, which, in turn, consists of many subsystems. And in order to develop mental abilities, it is necessary to work out individual parts of the intellect - logical, spatial, analytical. How can this be done?
Relevance of the problem
The question of how to develop intelligence is relevant for schoolchildren, students, and quite adults. Intelligence is a rather complicated concept. Its level is not easy to measure, because it includes many indicators. And the measurement results can be interpreted in different ways. For example, if two people have IQs of 100 and 120, then it cannot be said that one of them is 20% smarter than the second. After all, each of us met people who possessed a huge baggage of knowledge, but could not navigate the area or remember how much to cook pasta - 5 minutes or 10. Scientists believe that this is due to the presence of different types of intelligence. There are linguistic, analytical, creative, practical, spatial, emotional and other types.
Spatial thinking
The question of how to develop intelligence is interesting to people with different abilities and capabilities. Therefore, in improving mental abilities, it is important to determine what kind of intelligence you need to hone. One of the ways to improve mental abilities is the development of spatial thinking. It is responsible for the visual reality of a person, his ability to create and manage mental images. You can develop it with the help of spatial puzzles, as well as maze games. One of the most aesthetic methods for developing this type of intelligence is Japanese calligraphy.
Unsubscribe from TV
People are used to relaxing by the blue screens, clinging to the sofa. However, watching TV impedes the development of mental abilities. After all, if you spend too much time doing this activity, you can begin to think in the way the media wants. If you need to gain critical thinking, you need to abandon the TV in favor of books as soon as possible.
Record keeping
One of the simplest and at the same time powerful ways of developing mental abilities. For example, a great idea came up in your head. There are two options - either leave it in memory or lay it out on paper and begin to implement, recording each step. In the second case, processes will start in the brain that are dramatically different from the first case - even though the realization of the idea may be the same. That is why many scholars, politicians and other prominent people prefer to constantly keep notes.
Intelligence Development: Simple Psychologist Tips
How else can I improve IQ, develop memory, as well as creative abilities? Consider several ways.
- Solve difficult puzzles on logic and puzzles.
- Develop the skill of ambidextria (in other words, the ability to be equally good at both the right and left hand). To do this, you need to brush your teeth, cut the salad, use the computer mouse with your non-main hand. You can also learn to write with a leading hand, change hands when using cutlery.
- Block one or more perceptual channels. There are blindfolded, for a while to cover your ears with ear plugs.
- Try to find common ground between those things that, at first glance, are completely different from each other.
- Learn to type blindly, use computer keyboards with different key positions.
- Change your usual ideas about life to the opposite.
- In the process of solving a complex problem, do not stop at the obvious solution, try to mentally rush beyond the “correct” answer to the question.
- Change the usual order of things. Ask yourself: “What if?”
- Develop a critical world view. Refute common stereotypes and misconceptions.
- Explore the logic.
- Learn the philosophy of science.
- Draw and draw.
- To engage in creativity - sculpture, dancing, painting.
- Eat foods that are good for the brain: fish, nuts, seeds.
Solve Crosswords
Special exercises designed to increase IQ do not allow to improve practical intelligence - with their help it is impossible to increase the ability to analyze data, learn to make the right decisions. On the other hand, crosswords can expand vocabulary, as well as improve memory performance. Older people who like to solve crossword puzzles are about the same as people 10 years younger. Therefore, puzzles and sudoku are a good way to strengthen shared memory and increase erudition.
Learn a foreign language
For many, the answer to the question "How to develop intelligence?" became the study of foreign languages. Scientists have repeatedly proven the link between foreign language ownership and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, one of the most common types of dementia. Moreover, the effect works not only if a person has known two languages since childhood. Even if he learned Spanish or English as an adult, and began to use it actively, this would be a good prevention of the disease. Scientists believe that the constant switching between several languages can strengthen neural connections, which prevents the process of their destruction.
Books that develop intelligence and thinking
Reading has many advantages for developing mental abilities. It:
- Increases literacy. Visual perception leads to the fact that the reader remembers the correct spelling of words.
- Improves figurative and other types of thinking.
- Develops writing abilities.
- Allows you to train your memory, increase concentration.
There are books that are aimed at the development of certain aspects of the brain. The most popular topics are strengthening memory, increasing the speed of perception of information, developing skills of abstract thinking.
The following books can be distinguished that develop intelligence and thinking:
- “Development and training of memory” - O. Andreeva, L. Khromova.
- "Photo Reader" - Paul Shelley.
- “Think in your mind like a computer” - Bill Handley.
- “Entertaining mathematics” - J. Perelman.
- The Art of Thinking - Bertrand Russell.
Puzzle games, math
Games that develop intelligence are chess, backgammon, all kinds of online games of different genres. They allow you to train your mind, improve concentration and memory. Board game is one of the oldest forms of rivalry, in which the best minds showed their qualities.
For many, the answer to the question of how to develop intelligence was mathematics. Exact sciences allow us to develop a range of useful qualities. This is abstract thinking, analytical ability, speed of thought processes. Mathematics can be compared with physical exercises designed for a whole complex of different muscles.
Minute for memory
Consider a useful exercise that develops intelligence. Below are the names and dates that indicate some events in life. You need to read this list three times. Then remove it and reproduce what happened to remember.
Katya and Petya got married on August 15, 1994.
Elena Petrovna defended her doctoral dissertation on January 30, 1998.
The mayor of the city planned a grand festivities on April 19, 2016.
Limerick
Intelligence can also be developed by compiling special verses. One of these exercises is limerics. They should have 5 lines, where the 3rd rhymes with the 4th, and the 1st with the 2nd and 5th. For instance:
"Once upon a time there was a dear Masha
Her sister's name was Glasha.
They had fun
Swore, put up,
Until mother hears them. "
Composing your own limerics is a fun and useful activity for the development of intelligence.
Burime
It is also useful to come up with burim - humorous poems in which rhyme is already spelled out in advance. This game for the development of intelligence first appeared in France in the XVII century. According to the rules of this exercise, you can not rearrange the rhymes, or in any way change their endings. First you need to specify a rhyme. For example: "A cow - again." Then you need to come up with a poem. For example: "Petya graze takes the cow, and she rests again and again."
Exercise "Fool's Eye"
How to develop intelligence in an adult? This is often a very difficult task, as a mature person already has a set of certain frameworks of thinking. The worldview of an adult is limited. Expanding horizons helps exercise called "The look of a fool." It can not be called the simplest, however, it helps to break the usual framework of thinking. To complete it, you need to answer a few questions.
- How would a fool act in my place?
- What dreams does a fool have?
- What would a real fool understand from this article?
If you periodically perform this exercise, you can significantly increase respect for your own intellectual abilities, as well as expand your horizons.
Improve mental abilities in children
For many parents, the question of how to develop intelligence in a child is relevant. There are several different directions that allow you to improve your baby's abilities. For example, practical thinking skills allow you to develop:
- Constructor.
- Plasticine modeling.
- Various toys that reflect the result of the child’s action.
Visual-figurative thinking develops thanks to:
- Coloring.
- Labyrinths.
- Designing according to a given sample.
- Collecting puzzles.
Classes that allow you to develop logical thinking:
- Puzzles
- Drawing up a story from a picture.
- Various games for generalization (for example, the division of objects into categories).
How to develop a child’s emotional intelligence? You need to start doing this from an early age. The mother or the person who replaces her should serve as a kind of “mirror” of the baby’s experiences. “Petya is smiling”, “Petya is crying”, “Petya wants to eat” - such phrases can be called truly miraculous. Indeed, it is through this that the child learns to understand his experiences, to be aware of them.
Also, for the development of emotional intelligence in a baby, it is useful to name those experiences that fill the mother: "I'm tired," "I'm worried," "I'm curious."
It is useful to teach the baby to give feedback. To do this, you need to talk about your emotional reaction to his experiences, and also ask how the baby reacts to the feelings of the mother.
Work with children with intellectual disabilities
Corrective developmental education for children with intellectual disabilities should include an integrated approach. Firstly, development issues must be considered. It is much more difficult for such kids to comprehend the surrounding reality, therefore special classes are necessary that correspond to the baby's abilities. In addition, it is important to pay attention to communication. After all, often kids can not fully communicate, build a conversation with other people. All this child needs to be patiently taught. It is also important to consider psychology. As they get older, children begin to be ashamed of themselves, as they are somewhat different from others. They really need help and understanding from adults.