An individual's intelligence can vary up to 40 IQ points as a result of different environmental influences. There is actually a rather large body of evidence which suggests that our brains have the capacity for continued growth throughout our entire life and that each of us has the ability to become increasingly intelligent. Evidence indicates that the greater the amount of information an individual learns, the greater the capacity for further learning.34...Each of us would appear to have the capacity to actively increase our own effective intelligence by manipulating our own environment. Good diet and nutrition probably play a part. It is becoming apparent that certain chemical agents such as choline and lethecin may enhance memory. Both are natural precursors to acetylcholine which is one of the neurotransmitters acting at the level of the synapse within the brain.
Howard Gardner believes that both motivation and attention are extremely pivotal in the training of intelligence.35...Meditation and other techniques would appear to stimulate creativity and help to achieve higher-order concepts relative to our reality.
It has been established by neurologists that in certain altered states of consciousness, such as deep meditation or intense creativity, both hemispheres shift into a single, coherent rhythm, operating in unison referred to as synchrony. It has been possible over the past many centuries to achieve this state through meditation; however, very recently certain brain-stimulation devices have been developed which it has been claimed can rapidly elevate the brain of virtually anyone into this beneficial state. Such things as euphoria, reverie, recollection of long-past experiences, stimulation of memory, sexual excitement, deep concentration, and heightened creativity have been reported by altering the electrochemical activity of the brain with a multitude of mechanical devices.36...Experimental studies suggest that various mind machines can dramatically improve IQ, neuro-efficiency quotient, long-term memory, serial memory, attention, reaction time, recall, sensory acuity, hemispheric synchronization, and brainwave amplitude, as well as other capacities.37...One of several devices invented is the sensory-deprivation flotation tank developed by Dr. John Lilly, which allows one to float in body- temperature water in total darkness and silence, making it possible to achieve various states of altered consciousness.38
Although I have had no experience with any of these devices, it would seem theoretically possible to achieve the results claimed. Much research needs yet to be done to determine their effectiveness.
If one's intelligence can be enhanced through individual effort, it might also follow that any skill might be improved. The performance of any skill is dependent upon certain criteria which might be expressed mathematically:
| Performance (Conc.)(Motiv.)(Time)(S&K Int.) |
| Concentration = Level of focused consciousness |
| Motivation = Level of intensity of desire to achieve objective. |
| Time = Total time previously devoted to skill acquisition. |
| Spatial and Kinesthetic Intelligence = Coordinated integrated motor skills required by artists, musicians and athletes as defined by Jack Fincher.39 |
 | 
Netscape CTRL + D
MAC Command + D |  |
page 8.5
|
