Monday, January 28, 2019

Intellect is not fixed: a new understanding of cognitive abilities





Spatial navigation, decision-making, sociality, and creativity are essential intelligence measures. Brain structures and neuronal networks mediate cognitive ability, turning intellect into a flexible trait. Mice growing up in a stimulating environment show higher problem-solving skills later in life. Environmental factors, such as place of residence, physical exercise, family income, parent's occupation, and education, significantly influence a child's IQ. 

Food scarcity probably was a significant factor that drove cognitive evolution. However, the continuous availability and consumption of energy-rich food in relatively sedentary modern-day humans might inversely affect mental changes. For example, high-calorie food intake negatively impacts intelligence measures and cognitive abilities. Obesity impairs cognition and increases the risk of some psychiatric disorders and dementia. Moreover, maternal and paternal obesity predisposes offspring to poor cognitive development by epigenetic molecular mechanisms. 

Intermittent food deprivation seems to enhance cognition on the cellular level. Epigenetic molecular DNA and chromatin protein modifications can propagate to future generations. Paying attention to bioenergetic-based eating and exercise patterns can improve cognitive health and resilience. Read the whole article. 

Amazingly, virtual reality experience can modify intelligence. For example, being a virtual Einstein improves cognitive function and decision-making and reduces elderly bias. Impersonating psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud inspires personal problem resolution and social understanding. Brain modulation technology can artificially create or cancel memories, opening new, noninvasive avenues to treat mental disorders, depression, PSTD, and others.




Picture credit: www.freepik.com


The book on Amazon                                          My mailing list                     





The Science of Consciousness Post, your news about the mind
The Science of Consciousness, please join the discussion
Website: evadeli


Copyright © 2019 by Eva Deli

No comments:

Post a Comment