A Four-Fold Formula for Mental Maximization

Proper Nutrition: Doctors are very aware that inadequate nutrition causes poor mental performance. To keep your brain running its best you must provide it with the nutrients it requires.

Eat your vegetables. Purple, blue and green vegetables especially. I don’t think I need to tell you why.

Take some supplements. One essential supplement for brain health, especially for children and pregnant women, is DHA and EPA. These are also known as Omega fatty acids, and can be found in the fish oil supplements that you can purchase at any health store. DHA promotes neurite growth in hippocampal neurons, and the neurons grown in DHA rich environments had longer neurite length and more branches (J Neurochem. 2004 Aug). DHA reduces risk for Alzheimer’s (Neuron 2004 Sep).Researchers at the University of Oslo in Norway examined how introducing cod liver oil into the diets of women who were pregnant and nursing effected the intelligence of their children. The children of the women who were given the fish oil scored better on aptitude and intelligence tests than those of the placebo group.

Many of the so called “smart drugs” or brain boosting supplements have disputable effects. One of these drugs, however, shows clinical promise. Piracetam is prescribed in Europe for treatment of brain damage, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and many other cognitive deficits. One European study showed that it benefits alcoholics, both from the damage alcohol visits upon the brain and from the impairment caused by its withdrawal. Piracetam improves learning and memory (Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1976 Sep) and increases oxygen in the brain.

Physical Exercise: Go for a walk. Don’t get lazy, just do it. The benefits are numerous.

Mental Exercise: Use it or lose it.

Mental stimulation improves IQ. Studies show that children who grow up in mentally stimulating environments show improved IQ’s and cognitive ability. The same stands true for adults, only the IQ bonus is only temporary. If you stop stimulating your mind, your IQ score goes back down. Exercise your reason every day. Solve riddles, logic problems, and math problems for at least twenty minutes. Try to solve different types of problems. Or invest in a Nintendo DS and a game like “Brain Age” or “Big Brain University” to work out every part of your mind.

Develop an Epistemology: Ask anyone with a few years behind them and they will tell you learning and experience count.

Find some topics and study them. Philosophy, logic, strategy, psychology (social psychology as well), game theory; these are not only interesting but an underlying knowledge of these subjects will increase your ability to analyze people and situations correctly and act the most optimally. Most pupils complete the current system of education without learning the fundamentals of how our cognition effects our actions and beliefs, one must study these principles to prevent cognitive mistakes and biases blocking ones access to truth and correct action. Knowledge of logic is especially helpful, as it will help you think without believing your own half baked assumptions and partial truths, which will help your judgment. As will raising self awareness of your own biases and prejudices. In fact, the more you learn in these subjects, the more you will realize how little you know, and how much false information you have picked up from assumption, bias, and other peoples opinions, which were created without these fundamental skills. (See Get Smart: “Foundations Series”)

If you follow every of the preceding prescriptions earnestly and with perseverance and diligence, you will become smarter. This is not something that will turn you into a genius overnight, but over time you will become more competent, sharper, and more effective.