What makes us smarter?

Do some people seem to be naturally smarter than others? Think about it. Have you seen two kids of the same age, but one seems to learn faster and do better in school than the other? This brings up the question: why are some people more intelligent than others? Is it something we're born with, or is it something we can develop over time through learning and experience?

There's a lot of talk about whether intelligence is something we're born with or something we can develop. Some people think intelligence mostly comes from our genes — basically, the traits we get from our parents. They mention studies showing that smartness often runs in families, which suggests that our genes have a big impact on how smart we are.

But others say that the environment we grow up in — like our experiences, education, and the people around us — has an even bigger effect on shaping our intelligence.

Some people believe that our genes play a big role in how smart we can be. Recent research has found that certain combinations of genes are linked to higher intelligence. This doesn't mean there's one ‘smart gene,’ but rather that lots of different genes work together to influence our thinking abilities.

For instance, studies on identical twins who share the same genes show that their IQ scores are often very similar, even when they grow up in different places. This suggests that our genes have a strong impact on how smart we are.

Genes don't work alone. Research in a field called epigenetics has shown that our environment can affect how our genes behave. Things like what we eat, how stressed we are, and what toxins we're exposed to can turn certain genes on or off. So, although our genes provide a starting point, our environment also has a big impact on how intelligent we can become. It is like having a blueprint for a house but being able to make changes based on the available materials and tools.

People who think that you can become smarter by working hard believe that our environment has a big effect on how smart we become. They state that the things we see, learn, and even eat can make us smarter over time.

For example, kids who grow up in places with lots of books, activities, and supportive adults often do better on tests that measure how smart they are. Eating healthy food is also important for making our brains work well, especially when we're young.

Did you know that what we eat and how we feel can impact our intelligence? Recent studies have found that the bacteria in our gut, called the microbiome, can affect how our brain works. This connection between our gut and our brain shows that what we eat doesn't just fuel our bodies, but also influences our brains.

So, taking care of our gut health could help make us smarter. Stress also plays a big role. High stress levels, especially during childhood, can affect brain development and lower IQ. Being in a calm and supportive environment is important for kids' learning and memory.

Research suggests that intelligence isn't fixed. While our genes may set some limits, our environment, experiences, education, and effort can help us become smarter over time. This idea is supported by the concept of neuroplasticity, which means that our brains can change and adapt throughout life, forming new connections and getting stronger as we learn and experience new things.

While having a high IQ can be helpful, it is not the only factor for success. Things like creativity, understanding emotions, and perseverance are also crucial. Creativity allows us to think in new ways, emotional intelligence helps with managing emotions and interacting with others, and perseverance, or grit, is the ability to stick with long-term goals even when faced with challenges. Research shows that grit is often a better predictor of success than IQ.

Remember that being smart isn't just about being good at math or language. There's also something called cultural intelligence (CQ), which is about understanding and working well with people from different cultures. In today's globalised world, it's important to have high CQ, just like it's important to have a high IQ.

Our smarts are influenced by both our genes and our experiences. By knowing how these things affect intelligence, we can find good ways to help ourselves and others get smarter.

This can be through things like learning, staying healthy, managing stress, and building character. Intelligence isn't just about being clever; it's also about using our abilities to make the world a better place.