Improving intelligence: a literature review

Swiss Med Wkly. 2010 May;140(19-20):266-72. doi: 10.4414/smw.2010.12852.

Abstract

Intelligence is associated with performance on a wide range of cognitive tasks and is a reliable predictor for educational and professional success. Therefore, the development of effective training regimens that aim to improve intelligence is of high interest. In recent years, there has been accumulating evidence that certain interventions have a positive impact on intelligence. The aim of the present paper is to provide a literature review on such studies. Despite promising results, we conclude that there are still many unknown variables and that the mechanisms that underlie improvements in intelligence are not well understood. More work is needed in order to disentangle these involved processes and to further refine existing training regimens.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Achievement
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / therapy
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / administration & dosage
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology
  • Cognition Disorders / therapy*
  • Creatine / administration & dosage
  • Dementia / diagnosis
  • Dementia / psychology
  • Dementia / therapy
  • Early Intervention, Educational
  • Education, Special / methods*
  • Executive Function
  • Humans
  • Intelligence* / drug effects
  • Memory, Short-Term
  • Middle Aged
  • Practice, Psychological*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / agonists
  • Transfer, Psychology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Wechsler Scales
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Creatine