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These studies suggest that various forms of training, including SMART training, creative problem-solving, and deriving relations among stimuli, can increase IQ, while supplementation and specific behavioral training may also contribute.
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The question of whether intelligence quotient (IQ) can be trained has been a subject of extensive research and debate. Recent studies have provided evidence suggesting that certain interventions can indeed lead to improvements in IQ scores. Below is a summary of key findings from multiple research papers on this topic.
A study by Cassidy et al. (2011) explored the efficacy of SMART (Strengthening Mental Abilities with Relational Training) in raising general intelligence by training relational skills. In a sample of Irish secondary school students, significant increases in IQ scores were observed in the experimental group after 12 weeks of bi-weekly 45-minute sessions. The study found significant improvements in Verbal IQ, Matrix Reasoning, and Vocabulary scores, supporting the effectiveness of SMART training in enhancing intellectual skills.
A comprehensive review and meta-analysis examined various interventions aimed at raising IQ in school-aged children. The study found that dietary supplementation with multivitamins and iodine, as well as learning to play a musical instrument, can lead to significant increases in IQ. However, the effects of iron supplementation and executive function training were found to be unreliable. The meta-analyses provided robust evidence for the efficacy of these interventions in raising intelligence.
Revisiting Kvashchev’s experiment, a study examined the impact of creative problem-solving training on intelligence. The experimental group showed an average increase of 10 IQ points compared to the control group, with a more substantial increase of 15 IQ points when considering fluid and crystallized intelligence. This suggests that prolonged and intensive training in creative problem-solving can lead to significant improvements in IQ during late adolescence.
Another study aimed to replicate and extend previous findings on the impact of relational frame skills training on general intelligence and scholastic aptitude. The intervention led to significant increases in full-scale IQ scores in both typically developing children and those with learning difficulties. The study highlighted the importance of relational skills in underpinning general cognitive abilities.
Contrary to earlier skepticism, recent research has shown that it is possible to increase fluid intelligence through targeted training. Although previous attempts yielded ambiguous results, newer studies have demonstrated that training on specific cognitive tasks can lead to generalizable improvements in IQ, rather than merely practice effects.
Behavioral training has also been explored as a means to raise intelligence. While some studies have methodological shortcomings, there is evidence that working memory training can lead to improvements in fluid intelligence. The potential for more substantial gains with prolonged training remains an area of interest for future research.
The body of research indicates that various training interventions, including SMART training, dietary supplementation, creative problem-solving, and relational frame skills training, can lead to significant improvements in IQ. While some methods show more promise than others, the overall evidence supports the notion that IQ can indeed be trained.
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