In a famous study (2008) Alexis Madrigal, Suzeanne Jaeggi and Martin Buschkuel claimed that cognitive training, specifically "working memory training", could significantly increase IQ.
What is fluid intelligence?
Fluid intelligence is the capacity to identify patterns, structures, and to find new solutions to new situations. It is one of the major factors of IQ. It is the opposite of a different type of intelligence called "crystallized intelligence", which relies on the use of information already stored in your brain.
How Dual N back can help you increase your IQ
Madrigal and his colleagues recommended training your brain with “dual n-back” tests, as a way to increase fluid intelligence. According to a study, participants who had been exercising their brains for 25 minutes per day on a dual n-back test, were able to increase by 40% the rate of correct answers to an IQ test. The interesting fact here is that no IQ test questions had nothing to do with the dual n-back.
According to the researchers, Dual N back increases two factors that influence fluid intelligence: working memory and attention control.
How Dual N Back works
Dual N back consists of two independent tasks or sequences presented simultaneously. One is auditory, the other is visual.
The N, in “dual N back” corresponds to a specific number from a previous stimulus that the player must remember. For example, in a sequence where n = 1 you have to remember the stimulus of one element, in a sequence where n = 2 you have to remember the stimulus of two elements.
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