Topic Tuesday - Entry #2

Intelligence

 

   For many years scientists believed that intelligence and our "IQ" was solely based on genes. They believed that everyone was stuck with their own genes and the amount someone could have learned was a set stick. Well thats not the case. Now almost all of the science community stands by the fact that intelligence is something we can work on and improve. And really its all in the neuroscience.

   

 About a year and a half ago I was average. I'm not trying to make that sound bad but I was. I wasn't doing my best in math, I goofed off in biology, and I practically wasted my freshman and sophmore year in high school. Even though all my friends were very smart and all had good grades I was the only one of them who didn't stand out. You know why? Well its because I thought I couldn't get any better.I thought I'd hit my learning capacity so I wasted time playing games and watching T.V. One day one of my best friends, Micheal, and were talking and he brought up the subject about intelligence he told me exactly what I just told you, that intelligence isn't set; it can change. When I look back on it I think he was trying to tell me something, something along the lines of  "Hey, Derin, I know your smart, but your not trying to be. Here take this and grow." That day something sparked I realized that I wasn't to far behind I still had ( still have ) so many years in front of me. A week after that I fell in love with psychology and about 2 months after that I started on the brain. I've learned so much and I don't plan to stop anytime soon. And like I said above its all in the neuroscience.

  

Have you ever wondered why your so good at one thing but can't get the hang of another? Well here's the reason why. Our neurons, small cells in our brain, are made up of dendrites, axons, somas, and something called mylein sheath. Dendrites are where neurons connect to each other, axons are fiberlike bodies that carry an electrical signal, somas which are the nucleus of the neuron and mylein sheath a fatty substance that insulates the axon. If you had to think of one thing that you were really good at and another which you had no idea on how to do, what would conclusion be? Well chances are you probably do the thing your good at way more often then the thing your horrible at. So if we look at your neuron pathway for activity "A"( the practiced activity) versus activity "B" ( little practice) we'll see that on axon pathway for A the mylein sheath is much more thick and abundant and on axon pathway B it might not even be covered. The reason why is because mylein covers the axon in certain areas allowing the electrical current to sort of jump from one end of the mylein to the other increasing response time and reducing energy used. Now if its not covered in mylein or barely covered it take more enegery, concentration and more time. Now you might be wondering, if you haven't gotten it already, How do I increase my mylein sheath? Well here's your answer: Practice. That all it is. So if intelligence is just a matter of practicing shouldn't everyone be smart? Not necessarily. Take for example drawing and Physics. The way you practice in physics is much more different then practing drawing. So at the end of the day all you have to do to increase your intelligence is to practice your brain and certain areas depending on what you want to learn. Simple excercises to increase your IQ is to play with puzzles, write, or even doing a simple maath problem while your on the toliet, anything that keeps you mind active.

 

 

-Derin

 

 

 

This post may have been a little confusing and I'm sorry for that, but I hope you enjoyed none-the-less. I want to apologize for the disorganization. Thats due to something I pressed making it very hard to type. I also would like suggestions on topics if you want to read about something. It could be anything, from the thalmus to art or what have you, I want to hear it all. Be sure to leave a comment because I really enjoy reading all of them. And have fun working your brain.