Intelligence and Memory

If you wish to improve your memory, you will also need to understand the nature of intelligence. Intelligence is currently broken down into two categories, and these are crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence.

Crystallized intelligence deals with the brain processes which are related to knowledge, while fluid intelligence is related to basic logic and problem solving processes. While many IQ tests will be balanced when it comes to balancing these two aspects of intelligence, many of them will place an emphasis on crystallized intelligence.

Intelligence is something that is not well understood. Many scientists don’t even know if intelligence should be referred to as being a "thing." It may be better to say that intelligence is a property of the brain. However, the exact property that intelligence is related to is not known as of this writing. There are a number of properties that have been proposed. Some people have said that brain processing power, speed, and the plasticity of connections made between neurons are important. Despite this, fluid intelligence seems to be more well defined, and can be referred as being working memory.

There are powerful connections between memory and intelligence. The reason for this is because information which is stored in your long term memory may be recalled in situations where you need to solve problems, and your ability to do this is in varying degrees may be defined as intelligence. The two factors which will effect fluid intelligence the most are stress and emotions. There is also evidence that the environment that a person lives in will play a role in their fluid intelligence. Throughout history, many people who were considered to be extremely intelligent were known for having highly developed memories.

It was their ability to retrieve and apply information that had been stored in their long term memories that often allowed them to solve complex problems. For example, it would have been impossible for Einstein to develop his general or special theories of relativity if he had not been able to recall important information that had been stored in his long term memory in order to overcome problems. Not only did Einstein need to be able to recall important information, but he had to do it quickly. This is one of the aspects of intelligence. Memory and intelligence are two sides of the same coin. Virtually every great scientist or mathematician who has ever lived understood the importance of memory.

Many people who are skilled at math are able to solve problems in their head. The reason they can do this is because they can quickly pull up stored information that will allow them to successfully solve the problem. For example, if you run into a word problem on a test that you’ve solved before, if the information for the problem has been stored in your long term memory, you should be able to handle the new problem with relative ease. People who are good at math don’t necessarily have genetics which are better than those who are not. What it does mean is that they have stored mathematical data in their long term memory that they are able to pull up when they need it.

Many people wander why children are able to learn skills much more faster than adults. One of the reasons is their environment. A child that is raised in an environment that is consistent with them learning a skill will quickly master it. The information must be stored into their long term memory. To improve your intelligence, you will want to first improve your memory. When you are able to recall important information from your long term memory, and you are able to use it solve a problem, you will display what is commonly called intelligence.

The secret to enhancing your intelligence is to enhance your memory. To enhance your memory, you must find a way of remembering desirable information that you want to place in your long term memory storage. If your brain thinks that it is not important, it won’t store it. If you can remember things in a way that effects you on an emotional level, you should be able to place this information into your long term storage, and your ability to recall and apply this information will be a sign of someone who is highly intelligent.