IQ and Meditation: Can It Help You Unlock Your Brain’s Potential?

The correlation between IQ and meditation may not seem obvious, but it’s real—the more you meditate, the more likely you are to boost your brain power.

So, we all know it can have calming effects on the brain, but can meditation increase IQ? As it turns out, the answer is yes. Meditation benefits are numerous and diverse, so much so that, if practiced correctly and regularly, it can even improve IQ test scores.

If you want to unlock your brain’s full potential, stay tuned. In this article, we’ll explore the connection between high IQ and meditation in detail, helping you learn how to use this practice for optimal results.

Key Takeaways

• IQ and meditation are related, as different meditation practices can help enhance fluid intelligence and thus boost your IQ score.
• IQ stands for intelligence quotient and encompasses memory, attention span, logical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and abstract thinking.
• Meditation has several positive effects on the brain, including enhancing cortical thickness, reducing stress, improving memory and focus, and slowing aging.
• The best meditation types for improving cognitive abilities include mindfulness meditation, concentrative meditation, and transcendental meditation (TM).
• Correctly practicing meditation involves consistency regarding time and place, assuming a comfortable position, and breathing naturally.

What Is IQ?

IQ stands for intelligence quotient, a result of a standardized IQ test designed to measure cognitive development. It encompasses memory, attention span, logical reasoning, abstract thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

The term ‘standardized IQ test’ may refer to several internationally recognized tests, such as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Raven’s Progressive Matrices, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.

These tests use advanced psychometric techniques to assess cognitive development by comparing the test taker’s performance to that of their peers. Their score is expressed in percentiles—for example, if they perform equally to half of their peers, they belong to the 50th percentile.

The percentiles are then converted to a corresponding score on the Stanford-Binet scale, ranging from 40 to 160. The test taker from our example would have an IQ score of 100, which is considered the true average result.

What Is Meditation, and How Does It Affect the Brain?

Meditation is a centuries-long practice designed to train the mind to redirect thoughts and focus. Depending on their needs, people use it for different purposes, such as reducing stress or improving memory and concentration.

Let’s explore these and other effects meditation has on the brain in detail:

Changing Brain Structure

Hölzel et al. conducted a study in which 16 individuals participated in an eight-week-long Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training program. MBSR is primarily intended for stress management, although it’s being used to treat various conditions, including depression and anxiety.

The study showed that MBSR can enhance the concentration of gray matter (cortical thickness) in the hippocampus, the brain part responsible for emotional regulation and memory. Additionally, this type of meditation can decrease the volume of the amygdala, which has a primary role in processing emotions such as anxiety, fear, and stress.

Reducing Stress

Research by Creswell et al., involving 35 adults under severe stress compared their brain scans before and after meditation. The participants were trained in either a relaxation training program or mindfulness meditation. After three days, there was more activity in the areas of their brains related to the resting state.

Improving Focus and Memory

A paper by Mrazek et al. shows that a two-week mindfulness meditation course can decrease mind wandering and enhance attention and focus.

Additionally, a study by Pagnoni compared the brain scans of people who practiced meditation to those who didn’t. According to the results, meditation improves stability in the ventral posterior medial cortex, the brain region linked to mind wandering and spontaneous thoughts.

Slowing the Aging Process

Luders et al. found that meditation can help preserve the brain's gray matter, which controls the speed of processing information. As a result, the cognitive decline that happens with age can be delayed or even reversed.

Can Meditation Boost IQ?

Meditation can boost IQ by enhancing fluid intelligence. While crystallized intelligence can be enhanced with active engagement of the mind through learning, fluid intelligence works differently. It refers to your creativity and ability to solve problems, identify patterns, and use logic.

Since fluid intelligence is about innovation and ingenuity, it comes as no surprise it can’t be improved through standard learning methods. That’s where meditation can make a difference.

Siegfried Othmer, the former president of the neurofeedback division of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, conducted research on this subject. His approach involved a specific type of meditation—brainwave training.

According to Othmer’s results, participants who meditated showed an increase in IQ by 23% on average. Moreover, the follow-up study conducted a year later showed that these effects were permanent.

Another study conducted by Zeidan et al. showed that participants who meditated 20 minutes a day for four days scored significantly better on a working memory task—a vital element of fluid intelligence.

The primary reason behind this change is the fact that deep meditation slows brain activity, allowing it to rest. In this state, the brain increases its ability to reorganize itself.

3 Types of Meditation and Their Impact on Cognitive Capabilities

Now that we’ve explained the connection between IQ and meditation, let’s look into the best types of meditation for intelligence improvement.

#1. Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation has become increasingly popular over the past years. This practice is about concentrating on being highly aware of your current sensations and feelings without attempting to interpret or judge them.

By encouraging focused awareness and attention to the present moment, mindfulness enhances several cognitive functions, including working memory, attention control, and emotional regulation.

In the long run, this practice helps declutter the brain, allowing you to maintain attention for longer time periods and process information more efficiently.

This cognitive improvement can help you perform better on memory and problem-solving tasks, thus indirectly enhancing IQ by fostering cognitive abilities vital for intellectual functioning.

#2. Concentrative Meditation

Concentrative meditation is a type of meditation designed to help your mind focus entirely on one thought, object, sound, or entity. This can be breathing, repetition of a single word or phrase in your mind (mantra), or the sound of a ticking clock.

This practice trains the mind to reduce distractions, thus improving sustained attention, focus, and mental clarity. Over time, it strengthens the brain’s ability to concentrate on tasks, enhancing working memory and allowing you to hold and manipulate information more effectively.

As a result, improvements in attention, memory, and cognitive flexibility lead to better results on intelligence-related tests, ultimately raising your IQ score.

#3. Transcendental Meditation (TM)

Transcendental meditation is a practice that involves silently repeating a mantra to get into a state of deep relaxation and mental clarity. By promoting rest and thus reducing stress, this type of meditation helps the brain function more efficiently, leading to improvements in memory, attention, and information processing.

Practicing transcendental meditation regularly has shown increased coherence between different brain regions, strengthening connections in areas responsible for executive function, decision-making, and creativity.

Additionally, transcendental meditation helps reduce levels of stress and anxiety, which often hinder cognitive performance. By fostering a calm and focused mind, this practice enhances emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility, indirectly improving critical thinking and reasoning and leading to better results on IQ tests.

3 Practical Mediation Tips for Boosting Your Brain’s Performance

After exploring the correlation between IQ and meditation types, the question remains—how do you practice meditation correctly? If you have no experience, the entire concept may seem abstract, so we’ve gathered a few valuable tips to help you boost your brain power.

#1. Be Consistent About the Time and Place

There’s no universal answer to when you should meditate, but it’s good to begin early—preferably first thing in the morning. That way, you can start your day feeling relaxed, refreshed, and rested and ensure you don’t get consumed by your daily tasks to the point of not having the time for yourself.

Having said that, not everyone is a morning type, and if you don’t feel like meditating as soon as you wake up, you shouldn’t force it upon yourself. However, it’s important to designate a time slot for this practice and stick to it to develop a routine.

The same goes for the place—you should find a comfortable spot where you feel at peace and make it your daily meditation haven.

#2. Assume a Comfortable Position

When they think about meditation, most people imagine a person sitting cross-legged with their back upright. While this position is common, it’s not comfortable for everyone, and comfort is the main requirement of a successful meditation session.

That’s why you should choose the position that suits you best, one in which you can relax. Some people prefer to lie down, while others choose to sit in a chair with a cushion supporting their back.

There are no rigid rules when it comes to meditation positions, so let go of the stereotypes and make sure you’re comfortable, as that’s the main point.

#3. Breathe Naturally

Meditation involves focusing on your breathing as a way to anchor your mind and prevent distractions. However, focusing on it and actively thinking about it are two different things.

Namely, you shouldn’t try to alter your breathing in any way in an attempt to do it correctly. Instead, breathe naturally and concentrate on the sensation it creates. Notice your chest and stomach rhythmically rising and falling, and let your body take its course.

Meditation vs. Other Brain-Boosting Techniques

When it comes to improving your IQ score, meditation is only one of the techniques that can help. But what about the other ones? How do they compare to meditation, and can you combine them with it?

To answer these questions, let’s look into some of the most efficient brain-boosting techniques aside from meditation:

• Mind games and brain teasers: Crossword and jigsaw puzzles, memory card games, riddles, sudoku, chess, and checkers are more than a fun pastime. They can engage your brain, sharpen your focus, and enhance your attention, ultimately leading to better performance on intelligence-related tests.
• Socialization: Spending time with friends can help preserve your cognitive functions and decrease the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Whether you engage in mutual activities such as sports and games or discuss current events, enjoying the company of friends can be a great mental exercise.
• Learning new skills: Taking up a new hobby to learn a skill can enhance your memory function and increase coordination and connectivity between different brain areas. Moreover, it’s an effective way of improving your crystallized intelligence.
• Regular exercise: Regular physical exercise has more benefits than getting in shape and improving physical health. In addition to enhancing motor coordination, it positively influences memory, cognition, and multitasking, all important aspects of a sharp mind.
• Sleeping: A good night’s sleep isn’t time wasted, as adults typically need between seven and nine hours of sleep a night to feel rested, and as previously mentioned, resting the brain is crucial for improving cognitive abilities. It boosts memory recall, regulates metabolism, and reduces mental fatigue, creating space for new information and increasing productivity.

While meditation primarily affects fluid intelligence, some of these methods target crystallized intelligence, improving cerebral knowledge. However, both types of intelligence are important, which is why it’s best to choose the techniques that work for you and combine them with meditation.

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Final Thoughts

IQ and meditation are more closely linked than meets the eye. Namely, different meditative practices are highly beneficial for improving cognitive abilities such as concentration, memory, and attention.

By reducing anxiety and stress and allowing the brain to rest, meditation improves the brain’s ability to reorganize itself, thus sharpening focus and enhancing information processing.

In the long run, regular meditation can lead to improved IQ scores and have lasting positive effects on your mental state.