December 12, 2010
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Genius
Some people think genius is something you are born with. Not true. Intelligence is indeed a skill that can be developed, as we shall see.
Of course your DNA does affect your base intelligence. In 1958 some scientists bred some rats over generations to be specifically smart or dumb (measured by how well they ran through mazes). Here is a graph representing those rats:
So then they took a group of each type of rat, and put them in awful environments. Poor lighting, nothing interesting, just eat and sleep all day. Both groups of rats ended up completely dumb. In fact, there was no statistical difference between the two. Here is a graph representing those rats:
Then they got some more rats and put them in an awesome environment. They gave them all the rat toys they could ever desire. Everything they needed. Turned out both rats were amazingly smart, smarter than any of them were before:
There is a slight difference between the two, but not much.
In other words, how you develop your brain is much more important for your intelligence than the DNA you are born with.
Now, this has been known since 1958 or so. But for many years, it was assumed that the brain could only be changed while you were still growing. That there was a window you had to take advantage of when you were young otherwise your intelligence growing capabilities were gone forever.
However, in the last 10 years scientists have observed that adult humans can and do grow new braincells when we learn.
Now the question several researchers are working on is the best way to increase your intelligence. It is still an open question, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying to figure out a way yourself!
Comments (12)
This is very interesting.
I taught Kindergarten and always believed you could help with brain development in young children through teaching, reading to them, through play, etc. Also, did some reading (years ago) on a brain study that was done with elderly nuns who were active, still read, did puzzles, etc., and they found that these ladies brains were still growing at their advanced age. I couldn’t exactly find the study I read about years ago, but here are some similar links.
http://www.amazon.com/Aging-Grace-Teaches-Healthier-Meaningful/dp/0553380923
http://enchantedmind.com/html/science/build_better_brain.html
@adamswomanlost -
Totally! It really frustrates me when people peg themselves (or get pegged) as dumb and can’t do anything about it. What you do makes such a huge difference. And thanks for commenting lol. I was getting kind of depressed that no one had read it yet.
@adamswomanlost -
I like what you said about teaching Kindergarten, because to me it seems so obvious that you can develop your brain. It is strange to me that the ‘natural genius’ idea has so much traction when there is so much evidence against it.
@phantomFive -
I think we should always keep doing things to challenge our brain.
It think interaction with people, reading, writing, thinking, puzzles, learning something new, etc., all help our brain to grow. 
At birth, I was given a pea-brain that was filled with fluff and nonsense, so I’m constantly having to work on it! 
I made great grades in school…and I became a teacher…but I don’t see myself as smart…so I am always trying to challenge my “old” brain! 
The kids I birthed, however, have genius brains. 
I want to think all the deliberate interaction and time I spent with them as kids, helped them. 
You’re welcome for the comment. I am so busy today, I’m just trying to hit a few people’s posts and yours was so interesting I had to stop and comment.
HUGS!
No wonder I’m so smart. I spend all my time playing with rat toys.
My pet rats weren’t very interested in toys. Food and sex were their main pursuits. Kinda like teenagers.
@judyrutrider -
lol sounds like your teenagers needed a job
@throughthinking -
lol what are rat toys? I’ve been wanting to find the original study and figure out what kind of toys they gave the rats because I have no idea
@phantomFive -
Um, you can get them at Toys’r'ats.
So true! =) I wish things like this would motivate people more to use their brains…But honestly, it makes me wonder, in the US a lot of people have pretty good access to things that would enrich their minds…how’s it possible that they don’t capitalize more on that?…sigh.
Oh! And regarding the arsenic based life–when you first made the comment it confused me, and then I checked xkcd and was like “oooh, okay!” because a lot of the times you beat me to reading xkcd so I don’t always get the reference until later (i.e. the rolly chair one). But then I realized it was real, also!
Either way, it seems pretty coool. Which reminds me, today’s is pretty funny. Maybe I should start graphing more things…
@phosphor_stars -
well, ok, as long as you remember to label the axes.
@throughthinking -
alright I’ll step in next time I see one