Ilchi Lee

How the test is administered and what it measures

Have you ever wondered how your intelligence compares to another person’s in your general age group? The intelligence quotient (IQ) test is a popular test that measures just this.

It compares your cognitive ability to others in the general population by measuring your answers to questions involving problem solving and understanding of general concepts.

The first intelligence test was published by French psychologist Alfred Binet in 1905 to identify children needing extra help with the school curriculum. Today, the test remains popular, but it is surrounded by controversy and questions. What is intelligence? How can intelligence be measured?

The IQ is the score an individual receives after answering questions that test spatial, mathematical, language and memory abilities. The average individual’s IQ is 100. A score between 90 and 110 indicates average intelligence on most tests, while a score above 130 indicates exceptional intelligence and a score below 70 could indicate possible mental retardation.

While IQ tests can give you a general idea of how you compare to another person in terms of your cognitive ability, the test does not measure other aspects of intelligence, such as creativity, social skills and acquired abilities. So chances are, you’re a lot more intelligent than your IQ says you are.

Want to rewire your brain? Try flexing your gray matter

Albert Einstein once said, “Every child is born a genius.” He then suggested that through the continued development of our minds, we could forever remain as children.

Today, research is beginning to catch up to Einstein’s claim—at least in terms of our minds. Thanks to fMRI and other neuroimaging techniques, scientists are finally able to observe the impact specific actions have on various regions of the brain. What these scientists continue to find is that the decline of neural connections as we age is due more to the fact that we stop exercising our brain than to the fact that we are genetically inclined to become less acute as we become older.

In short, we simply stop being creative. We stop thinking like children.

Ilchi Lee, originator of Brain Education System Training (BEST) and author of Principles of Brain Management and the forthcoming In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging, states that: “Neuroplasticity is a very hopeful concept since it suggests that we have far more control over our neurological destiny than genetic determinists might suggest.”

In fact, Lee suggests that “Brain Versatalizing,” the process of rewiring our brain, is primarily a byproduct of shifting perspective. All it requires of you is to think like a child and continually “See Both Sides.” Here’s an exercise to get you started.

From Ilchi Lee (Excerpted from Principles of Brain Management)

Think of something nonhuman in your house that you interact with every day. It could be an object, like a TV or a toaster, or maybe a beloved pet. Now, write a complete description of this thing, telling all about how it looks and acts.

Then, write a description of yourself, from the point of view of the object. How do you look from its perspective?

Developmental disorders on the silver screen

On March 22, 2002, Ron Howard’s film A Beautiful Mind landed the film industry’s most coveted prize—the Academy Award for Picture of the Year.

Unlike many Hollywood movies that introduce characters with mental disabilities as their central figure, A Beautiful Mind, which is based upon the true-life events of Nobel Prize winning, paranoid schizophrenic John Forbes Nash Jr., was not panned for glamorizing Nash’s struggles with his illness. In fact, the film was praised for its realism and how it showcased the horrors of schizophrenia for both the afflicted and those who love them.

Still, developmental disorders portrayed on the silver screen are really quite different in real life. Or, as Martin F. Norden writes in his book The Cinema of Isolation, “the movie industry has perpetuated or initiated a number of stereotypes over the years… stereotypes so durable and pervasive that they have become mainstream society's perception of disabled people.”

The major Hollywood stereotype: mental conditions come with compensatory gifts.

Truth is, individuals with mental disabilities, particularly those with autism, do not exhibit savant tendencies more than any other individual. Their minds are more broken than beautiful, their lives more challenging and difficult than not.

So the next time Hollywood tugs on your heartstrings, makes you cheer for the triumphant idiot savant, enjoy the moment for what it is—cinematic magic, not reality.

Use your mirror to make you happy

Do you remember the last time you were part of a group photo? Chances are, everyone said “cheese” and started acting silly.

You probably attributed the giddiness to the group, maybe even to how childish everyone felt about saying “cheese.” However, what you probably did not consider is that it is the “e” in the “cheese” that made everyone happy…not the cheese itself.

Studies have shown that your facial actions affect your brain. For example, sounding out the letter “e” or saying “ah” results in your face mimicking a smile, thereby making you happy.

So the next time you’re feeling down, say your “e’s.” Before you know it, your mood will lift. Better yet, do it in front of a mirror. Not only will your mood lift, your self image will improve as you will begin to have a positive association with your reflection.

For another mirror mind lift, try this trick, which was posted on Braingle.com by a teacher who was trying to boost the self image of students in her class. Look in a mirror and repeat the following letters: I, Y, Q, Y, Q, R.

Before you know it, you’ll be smiling. Why? Because you’ll quickly realize that what you’re telling yourself is “I like you like you are,” even if you do sound like a two-year old.

Do people really use just 10 percent of their brain?

It is rumored that Albert Einstein once credited his genius to being able to tap into more than 10 percent of his brain’s capacity. Famed anthropologist Margaret Mead said we only use six percent.

Advertisers use it all the time: tap into the unlimited potential of your brain!

Truth is, we tap into the full physical limits of our brain everyday, and functional brain imaging studies confirm this. This does not mean that we use 100 percent of our brain 100 percent of the time, it just means that at various points of the day we access all of the brain’s functions.

However, just because we use 100 percent of our brain does not mean that we access 100 percent of its potential. What we eat, how we take care of our bodies, the way we challenge ourselves mentally all have a bearing on how effectively our brain functions.

For example, think of your brain as a muscle. The function of your bicep never changes, but as you exercise it, it grows, and its capacity increases. The brain is similar. Can it increase its capacity by 90 percent? Probably not. Is there a lot of wasted function? Some studies say no. But can the brain be improved? Yes, it certainly can.

Five foods that are good for your brain

There is a saying, “you are what you eat,” meaning that you have to eat good foods to stay fit and healthy. Your brain is what you eat, too, as studies show that smart food choices can fuel your brain and enhance learning and memory.

What are some smart food choices?

Antioxidants. Antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C and E, boost your brain and slow its degeneration by destroying free radicals. They are found in an abundance of foods, ranging from fresh fruits (blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, to name a few) to vegetables, beans and nuts.

Omega-3 fatty acids. Otherwise known as the “good fats,” the Omega-3 help to increase your cognitive functions and energy level. They are found in coldwater fish (salmon, trout, and tuna), avocados, nuts and olive oil.

Choline. Often grouped with the vitamin B family, this nutrient augments brain and memory development and is found in eggs, nuts and beef.

Whole Grains. The complex carbohydrates found in whole grains contain folate and vitamin B, which aid in improving memory function, as well as fiber, which helps to keep energy levels up.

Water. Staying hydrated keeps the brain alert and concentration in tact.

Keep in mind that how you eat is as important as what you eat. Small, regular meals are important. Even more important is that you prepare your food without depleting its nutritional value. Your brain will thank you.

Is decline inevitable?

In December 2007 The New York Times ran an article, “Mental reserves keeps brains agile.” The article stated that nearly 66 percent of people showing advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease in their autopsy were mentally acute when they died.

The article suggests that the decline of the brain is inevitable. Or, as neurologist Dr. Yaakov Stern said: “There is no quick fix for the aging brain.”

So how do scientists account for normal cognitive function when advanced brain abnormalities, typically associated with Alzheimer’s disease, are present?

The answer is one of neurosciences new buzzwords: cognitive reserve.

Cognitive reserve is the theory that an individual can build a surplus of healthy nerve cells and connections throughout life. According to the article, “this excess of working neurons and interconnections compensates for damaged ones to ward off dementia.”

Experts generally agree that the there are two ways to boost your cognitive reserve:

1.Regular exercise – Daily walks, yoga and other physical activities all increase blood flow to the brain.

2.Challenge yourself mentally - Making changes in your daily routine will force you to experience things differently and your brain to respond in new ways.

So as silly as “Sleeping Tiger” and getting dressed with your eyes closed (an exercise to challenge your mind) may seem today, research shows they have tangible benefits for tomorrow—an aging brain that can perform at a high mental level despite its inevitable physical decline.

Identifying appropriate stress response can make you healthier and happier

According to the American Institute for Stress (AIS), 43 percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.

Up to 90 percent of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints, ranging from arthritis to asthma, anxiety, depression, diabetes, headaches, heart problems, high blood pressure and skin conditions. People are literally worrying themselves sick.

Ilchi Lee, originator of Brain Education System Training (BEST) and author of Principles of Brain Management and the forthcoming In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging states that: “The brain wants to find a state of homeostasis…to return organs to their original functionality, slow the heart rate and return blood circulation to normal.”

Unfortunately, most people get in the way of this naturally stabilizing process, which is delivered through the parasympathetic nervous system. They are chronically stressed and their health and happiness suffer because of it. However, this does not need to be the case. As Lee suggests, to “Know Thyself” is to be able to identify and reduce stress.

From Ilchi Lee (Excerpted from Principles of Brain Management)

One way to gain control over your stress response is to realize when it has become inappropriate. Some stress is beneficial, but when and how does it become a problem for you? One way to determine this is to watch your physical body closely. Often, even before your conscious mind becomes aware of a stressor, the muscles in your body respond to it, becoming tense and rigid.

If you are under the influence of chronic stress, you probably have a few stress-related knots around your neck and shoulders. Sound familiar? Work to release these knots through stretching, massage and breathing exercises. Be patient—your body has a stress habit, so these tense spots may take awhile to alleviate.

Also, notice how your body responds when you are in a highly stressful situation. Do you hold your shoulders high? Does your breathing become shallow and rapid? These little details can be your clue to the point at which stress hormones have gone from helpful to hurtful.

Can video games really sharpen the brain?

Ever since Atari and Space Invaders became a household staple in the early 1980s, critical adults have had an easy scapegoat for everything wrong with children—the video game.

However, as new gaming systems become more advanced and interactive, both scientists and parents are beginning to change their thinking.

For example, James Gee, a professor of learning sciences at the University of Wisconsin, began conducting research on the cognitive effects of gaming on the brain after being stimulated and challenged by a random game he picked up from a store shelf. What he and other researchers are finding is that in addition to improving eye-hand coordination, video games can encourage the development of problem-solving skills, as well as strategic, high level thinking.

Couple this with the fact that new gaming consoles like Nintendo Wii are being used by hospitals and rehabilitation centers as a tool to help people who have suffered strokes, spinal injuries and major brain trauma rehabilitate quicker, and the argument that gaming can sharpen the brain becomes pretty compelling.

Does this mean video games are off the hook for society’s ills? Depends if you ever gave that theory much credence. One thing is evident, though. The value of a game, the tangible benefits you are able to take away from it, is like life. It correlates with the quality of your choice.