Training effects on iq test performance
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Training Effects on IQ Test Performance: Overview
Research shows that various forms of training can lead to improvements in IQ test performance, but the size and reliability of these effects depend on the type of training, the population studied, and the study design. Some interventions show substantial gains, while others highlight the importance of controlling for confounding factors such as placebo effects and baseline abilities.
Creative Problem-Solving and Cognitive Training
Creative Problem-Solving Interventions
Long-term, intensive training in creative problem-solving has been shown to produce significant increases in IQ scores. For example, a three-year program for late adolescents led to an average increase of 10 IQ points compared to controls, with even larger gains (up to 15 points) in measures of fluid and crystallized intelligence when using more precise metrics .
SMART Relational Skills Training
SMART (Strengthening Mental Abilities with Relational Training) is a cognitive training program that targets relational skills. Multiple studies have found that SMART training can lead to significant improvements in IQ, particularly in verbal and nonverbal domains Colbert2018Hayes2016. A meta-analysis found a moderate effect of SMART on nonverbal IQ, though the studies reviewed had methodological limitations and a high risk of bias . However, when controlling for baseline intelligence and attentional skills, the observed IQ gains from SMART training may be reduced or eliminated, highlighting the need for rigorous study designs .
Neurofeedback and Chess Training
Neurofeedback training in children with attention deficits has resulted in notable improvements in performance IQ, total IQ, and reductions in attention deficits, as measured by standardized intelligence tests . Similarly, systematic chess training over two years led to significant IQ increases (about 12 points) in schoolchildren compared to those engaged in other extracurricular activities .
Academic and Cognitive Skill Transfer
Training programs that focus on derived relational responding (a core component of SMART) have been shown to improve not only IQ scores but also academic skills such as reading, spelling, and numerical operations, with greater gains than those seen in computer coding training .
Music Training and IQ
Music training has been associated with higher IQ scores in children, with some studies showing gains in performance IQ, especially in younger children exposed to intellectually stimulating environments . However, other research suggests that the relationship between music training and IQ may be due to children with higher IQs being more likely to take music lessons, rather than music training directly causing IQ increases .
Placebo Effects and Methodological Considerations
Placebo effects can play a significant role in cognitive training studies. For example, participants who believed they were receiving effective cognitive training showed IQ gains similar to those reported in some intervention studies, even after just a single session . This finding underscores the importance of using rigorous controls and accounting for placebo effects when evaluating the true impact of training on IQ test performance.
Conclusion
Training interventions—including creative problem-solving, relational skills training, neurofeedback, chess, and music—can lead to improvements in IQ test performance, with some programs showing substantial gains. However, the magnitude and reliability of these effects depend on study design, control for baseline abilities, and the potential influence of placebo effects. While the evidence is promising, especially for certain types of cognitive training, more robust and well-controlled studies are needed to confirm the long-term and generalizable impact of these interventions on intelligence.
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