Is it Possible to Increase Your IQ?

by Cynthia Trang and Adam Hewett

Published on this site: May 27th , 2005 - See more articles from this month...

Most people are shocked when they are told that increasing their cognitive abilities is possible. It was once thought that mental capabilities were set in stone, unchanging since birth. But much of hat we know about the mind has changed since then, particularly in the last ten years. Research has found that there are many factors playing significant roles in IQ. For example, someone with ADD, properly treated, can experience huge leaps in IQ score, sometimes up to 30 or more points! Similarly, removing psychological barriers, limiting beliefs and increasing confidence can have a positive impact on cognitive abilities.

Brain Training - Brainwave and Neural Stimulation

The typical human brain is functioning on low capacity. Although the idea that a normal brain only uses 10% of its capacity is a myth, most people's brains are not functioning at their full capability. For example, studies show that the brains of many people, when confronted with a problem, will actually switch gears and start working less! Instead of switching to logic and "work mode," the brain switches to patterns of frustration and emotion. Many people have simply not learned to "turn on" these higher cognitive abilities when the time is right. Most people are unfamiliar with the states of intense concentration and laser-like focus that come so easily to the great thinkers of our time.

To correct this problem, researchers endeavored to recreate the brainwave patterns of over-achieving, successful individuals the most intelligent 1% of the population. What they found is truly remarkable. By helping to optimize brainwave patterns, people can both temporarily increase cognitive abilities and train the brain to produce this activity on its own.

Using Psychology, Mental Imagery & Suggestion

Psychology, emotional state and Hypnotic Suggestion have also been shown to effect cognitive abilities. Hypnotic suggestion has also been successfully used to increase memory retention and focus. Further, most people have limiting beliefs, thinking perhaps that they are incapable of incredible feats of memory or complex mental calculations. For example, a common limiting belief is "I am not good at math." And, of course, as long as you believe this, nothing will keep your mind from making it true. It is just as important to provide a psychological basis for increased intelligence, as it is to provide the necessary neural activity. Using Suggestion and a set of practical Psychological techniques, this goal becomes easier than ever to achieve.

The Research.

• In a 1999 study, Thomas Budzynski, Ph.D worked with eight struggling college students. After undergoing audio-visual brainwave stimulation, the students outperformed a control group and significantly increased their GPA. GPA for the 8 students continued to rise even after treatment was discontinued!
  
  
• Psychologist Michael Joyce used brainwave entrainment with a group of 30 children. He observed improvements in reading and a half-year advancement in grade level as well as substantial improvements in attention, reaction and a reduction in impulsivity and variability.
  
  
• Harold Russel Ph.D. and John Carter, Ph.D., of the University of Houston, did several studies in which they used brainwave entrainment to treat ADHD and other learning disorders, testing their IQ before and after treatment. Astonishingly, after treatment the subjects showed a five to seven point increase in IQ score.
  
  
• Michael Tansey used a similar protocol to treat dyslexia and other learning disorders, reporting a 19-point average increase in IQ score post-treatment.
  
  
• Drs. Siegfried and Susan Othmer found that neurofeedback brainwave training in the 15-18 Hz range can produce significant shifts in IQ score, particularly with people who are suffering from ADD/ADHD and other disorders. In cases where the starting IQ value is less than 100, the average IQ increase was 33 points! They also found significant improvements in memory, reading and arithmetic. In a one-year follow-up, trainees showed major improvements in self-esteem, concentration and self-expression.

Conclusion

Intelligence is not set in stone. Disorders like ADD and Dyslexia can have a very negative impact on IQ score. So can Depression, Anxiety and other mood disorders. Limiting beliefs, low self-esteem and a lack of motivation can also have a negative impact. These problems bog down your mental processing, and in some cases even cause the brain to work less when you need it most (above), out of frustration and emotion.

Using multiple methods, both psychological and neurological in nature, it is possible to change the brain and have a positive impact on cognitive abilities.

Cynthia Trang (a statistical research analyst and behavioral and social scientist) and Adam Hewett (Neurotherapy expert and computer engineer) are co-developers of brainwave entrainment products used by therapists, businesses, M.D.'s, teachers, academic researchers and thousands of regular, everyday people in over forty countries. Both can be reached at http://www.transparentcorp.com or [email protected] Evelyn Barney is a freelance copywriter and brainwave entrainment aficionado. She can be reached at [email protected]