Exercise can enhance intelligence

Can people improve their intelligence, or fix their IQ with the genes prescribed at birth? Nature seems to have won care until recently.

But a new study, led by Swiss postdoctoral researcher Susanne M. Jaeggi and Martin Buschkuehl at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, suggests that at least one aspect of an individual's IQ is Can be improved by practicing a certain type of memory.

Most IQ tests aim to measure two types of intelligence - crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence.Crystallized intelligence comes from inherent skills, knowledge and experience to solve problems by accessing information in long-term memory. Fluid intelligence draws on its ability to understand the relationship between multiple concepts, independent of previous knowledge or skills to solve new problems. Research shows that this part of intelligence can improve through memory training.

Jaeggi said: 'Many researchers think that improving intelligence is impossible. Our findings clearly indicate that this is not necessarily correct. Our brain is more flexible than we think. '

Jaeggi, Buschkuehl and Walter Perrig of the University of Bern, Switzerland, together with Jon Jonides, and colleagues from the University of Michigan funded by the National Science Foundation, explain that crystallized intelligence depends on long-term memory, while fluid intelligence depends on short-term memory, or more precisely, 'working memory'. This is the kind of memory people use to remember phone numbers or email addresses for a short time; But in addition, working memory also refers to the ability to control as well as use information recorded in memory in a short time when encountering unexpected problems.

Fluid intelligence, IQ is considered in a special aspect of a person, allowing solving unfamiliar problems by understanding the relationship between concepts independently of previous knowledge and skills. Research shows that short-term exercise, or working memory, can improve fluid intelligence, which seems extremely difficult. (Photo: iStockphoto / Vasiliy Yakobchuk)

Researchers gathered four volunteer groups, training their working memory using a complex training session called 'dual n-back training' , giving visual and auditory signals. participants must temporarily memorize and relive them.

Participants are trained half an hour a day for 8, 12, 17, or 19 days. During each training period, the researchers examined the participants' progress on fluid intelligence. They compare the results with those in the control group to make sure that volunteers actually improve fluid intelligence, not just the test-taking skills.

The results were very unexpected. While the control group has progressed, probably because they have trained with fluid intelligence tests, the team has been trained to improve significantly over the control group. Moreover, the longer the training period is, the more progressive the participants are. Jaeggi said: 'This result indicates that training for certain memory exercises improves fluid intelligence. We also found that individuals with a low fluid intelligence score in the entrance test gained many benefits from the training '.

This result has great significance because improving fluid intelligence score can enhance general intelligence when measured by IQ test. Intelligence is the key to determining the outcome of life such as academic success, job performance and career advancement.

Researchers conjecture that memory training will help children with developmental problems and senile memory loss. But this has not been validated yet, because the test results are based on the evaluation of young and healthy adults. Jaeggi emphasized: 'Although this is a difficult thing to improve memory problems, there may be some useful memory training exercises related to intelligence. The way to say 'use or lose' is appropriate in this case. '

Since the researchers are still not sure whether progress in fluid intelligence exists after the training stops or not, they are currently determining progress in long-term fluid intelligence with long-term experimental and practical tests. term Scientists say it is still a long time to have complete data to reach conclusions. Professor Walter J. Perrig is of the University of Bern and co-author of the study with Professor John Jonides of the University of Michigan. The Swiss National Science Foundation sponsors the trip of Jaeggi and Buschkuehl.