Editing Human intelligence (section)

== Improving ==
{{Further|Neuroenhancement|Intelligence amplification}}

=== Genetic engineering ===
{{See also|Human genetic enhancement|Neurogenetics}}
Because intelligence appears to be at least partly dependent on brain structure and the genes shaping brain development, it has been proposed that [[genetic engineering]] could be used to enhance intelligence, a process sometimes called [[biological uplift]] in [[science fiction]]. Genetic enhancement experiments on mice have demonstrated superior ability in learning and memory in various behavioral tasks.<ref name="pmid10485705">{{Cite journal |last1=Tang|first1= Y.P.|last2=Shimizu|first2=E.|last3=Dube|first3=G.R.|display-authors=etal |title=Genetic enhancement of learning and memory in mice |journal=Nature |volume=401 |issue=6748 |pages=63–69 |year=1999 |pmid= 10485705 |doi=10.1038/43432|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232778813|bibcode = 1999Natur.401...63T |s2cid=481884 }}</ref>

=== Education ===
Higher IQ leads to greater success in education,<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Johnson | first1 = W. | last2 = Brett | first2 = C. E. | last3 = Deary | first3 = I. J. | year = 2010 | title = The pivotal role of education in the association between ability and social class attainment: A look across three generations | journal = Intelligence | volume = 38 | pages = 55–65 | doi = 10.1016/j.intell.2009.11.008 }}</ref> but independently, education raises IQ scores.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Brinch | first1 = C. N. | last2 = Galloway | first2 = T. A. | year = 2012 | title = Schooling in adolescence raises IQ scores | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA | volume = 109 | issue = 2| pages = 425–30 | doi = 10.1073/pnas.1106077109 | pmid=22203952 | pmc=3258640| bibcode = 2012PNAS..109..425B | doi-access = free }}</ref> A 2017 meta-analysis suggests education increases IQ by 1–5 points per year of education, or at least increases IQ test-taking ability.<ref>{{Cite journal|first1=Stuart J.|last1=Ritchie|first2=Elliot|last2=Tucker-Drob|title=How Much Does Education Improve Intelligence? A Meta-Analysis|journal=Psychological Science|date=2018 |volume=29|number=8|pages=1358–1369 |language=en|doi=10.1177/0956797618774253|pmid=29911926 |pmc=6088505}}</ref>

===Nutrition and chemicals===
{{See also|Healthy diet|Nutrition and cognition|Dietary supplement|Nutraceutical|Eugeroic}}
Substances which actually or purportedly improve intelligence or other mental functions are called [[nootropic]]s. A meta analysis shows [[omega-3 fatty acids]] improve cognitive performance among those with cognitive deficits, but not among healthy subjects.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Mazereeuw|first1=G.|last2=Lanctôt|first2=K.L.|last3=Chau|first3=S.A.|last4=Swardfager|first4=W.|last5=Herrmann|first5= N. | title = Effects of ω-3 fatty acids on cognitive performance: a meta-analysis | journal = Neurobiology of Aging | volume = 33 | issue = 7 | pages = 1482.e17–29 | date = July 2012 | pmid = 22305186 | doi = 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.12.014 | s2cid = 2603173 }}</ref> A meta-regression shows omega-3 fatty acids improve the [[Mood (psychology)|moods]] of patients with major depression (major depression is associated with cognitive nutrient deficits).<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Mocking |first1=R.J.|last2=Harmsen|first2=I.|last3= Assies |first3=J.|last4=Koeter|first4=M.W.|last5=Ruhé|first5=H.G.|last6=Schene|first6=A.H. | title = Meta-analysis and meta-regression of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for major depressive disorder | journal = Translational Psychiatry | volume = 6 | issue = 3 | pages = e756 | date = March 2016 | pmid = 26978738 | pmc = 4872453 | doi = 10.1038/tp.2016.29 }}</ref>

===Activities and adult neural development===
{{See also|Development of the nervous system in humans#Adult neural development}}
{{Prose|section|date=August 2023}}
* Exercise [[Neurobiological effects of physical exercise|enhances cognition for healthy and non healthy subjects]]<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Caviola |first1=L.|last2=Faber |first2=N.S. | title = Pills or Push-Ups? Effectiveness and Public Perception of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Cognitive Enhancement | journal = Frontiers in Psychology | volume = 6 | pages = 1852 | date = 2 December 2015 | pmid = 26696922 | pmc = 4667098 | doi = 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01852 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
* Which (e.g. "intellectually demanding work")<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Burhenne |first1=H. J. |title=Stone removal basket |journal=American Journal of Roentgenology |date=1 June 1985 |volume=144 |issue=6 |pages=1313 |doi=10.2214/ajr.144.6.1313 |pmid=3873817 |issn=1546-3141}}</ref> and how one does [[Work (human activity)|work]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kenyon |first1=Georgina |title=Is full-time work bad for our brains? |url=https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20160714-is-full-time-work-bad-for-our-brains |access-date=7 November 2022 |work=BBC |language=en}}</ref>
* Quality of [[sleep]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lowe |first1=Cassandra J. |last2=Safati |first2=Adrian |last3=Hall |first3=Peter A. |title=The neurocognitive consequences of sleep restriction: A meta-analytic review |journal=Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews |date=September 2017 |volume=80 |pages=586–604 |doi=10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.07.010|pmid=28757454 |s2cid=46388360 }}</ref>

===Digital tools===
{{See also|Knowledge work|Personal knowledge management}}
====Digital media====
{{Excerpt|Digital media use and mental health|Impact on cognition}}

===Brain training===
Attempts to raise IQ with [[brain training]] have led to increases on aspects related with the training tasks – for instance [[working memory]] – but it is yet unclear if these increases generalize to increased intelligence per se.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite journal | first1 = Zach | last1 = Shipstead | first2 = Thomas S. | last2 = Redick | first3 = Randall W. | last3 = Engle | year = 2010 | title = Does Working Memory Training Generalize? | journal = [[Psychologica Belgica]] | volume = 50 | issue = 3–4 | pages = 245–276 | doi=10.5334/pb-50-3-4-245| doi-access = free }}
|2={{cite journal | last1 = Simons | first1 = Daniel J. | last2 = Boot | first2 = Walter R. | last3 = Charness | first3 = Neil | last4 = Gathercole | first4 = Susan E. | last5 = Chabris | first5 = Christopher F. | last6 = Hambrick | first6 = David Z. |  last7 = Stine-Morrow | first7 = Elizabeth A. L. | s2cid = 13729927 | year = 2016 | title = Do "Brain-Training" Programs Work? | journal = Psychological Science in the Public Interest | volume = 17 | issue = 3 | pages = 103–186 | doi = 10.1177/1529100616661983 | pmid = 27697851}} }}</ref>

A 2008 research paper claimed that practicing a dual [[n-back]] task can increase [[fluid intelligence]] (''g<sub>f</sub>''), as measured in several different standard tests.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jaeggi|first1=S. M.|last2= Buschkuehl|first2= M.|last3= Jonides|first3= J.|last4=Perrig|first4= W. J. |year=2008|title= Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory|journal= [[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences]]|volume=105|number=19|pages=6829–6833 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0801268105 |pmid=18443283 |pmc=2383929 |doi-access=free }}</ref> This finding received some attention from popular media, including an article in ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|author-link=Alexis Madrigal|first=Alexis|last=Madrigal|url=https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/04/smart_software|title=Forget 'Brain Age:' Researchers Develop Software That Makes You Smarter|journal=[[Wired News|Wired]]|date=April 2008}}</ref> However, a subsequent criticism of the paper's methodology questioned the experiment's validity and took issue with the lack of uniformity in the tests used to evaluate the control and test groups.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Moody | first1 = D. E. | year = 2009 | title = Can intelligence be increased by training on a task of working memory? | journal = Intelligence | volume = 37 | issue = 4| pages = 327–328 | doi = 10.1016/j.intell.2009.04.005 }}</ref> For example, the progressive nature of [[Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices]] (APM) test may have been compromised by modifications of time restrictions (i.e., 10 minutes were allowed to complete a normally 45-minute test).

===Philosophy===
Efforts to influence intelligence raise ethical issues. [[Neuroethics]] considers the ethical, legal, and social implications of neuroscience, and deals with issues such as the difference between treating a human [[neurological]] disease and enhancing the human brain, and how wealth impacts access to [[neurotechnology]]. Neuroethical issues interact with the ethics of [[human genetic engineering]].

[[Transhumanist]] theorists study the possibilities and consequences of developing and using techniques to enhance human abilities and aptitudes.

[[Eugenics]] is a social philosophy that advocates the improvement of human hereditary traits through various forms of intervention.<ref name="Osborn1937">{{Cite journal |last=Osborn|first= F. |author-link=Frederick Osborn |year=1937 |title=Development of a Eugenic Philosophy |journal=[[American Sociological Review]] |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=389–397 |doi=10.2307/2084871 |jstor=2084871}}</ref> Eugenics has variously been regarded as meritorious or deplorable in different periods of history, falling greatly into disrepute after the defeat of [[Nazi Germany]] in [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bashford|first1=Alison|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g15rfXUA2i8C&q=eugenics+defense+nuremberg+trials&pg=PA327|title=The Oxford Handbook of the History of Eugenics|last2=Levine|first2=Philippa|date=2010-08-03|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=978-0199706532|page=327|quote=Eugenics was prominent at the Nuremberg trials [...] much was made of the similarity between U.S. and German eugenics by the defense, who argued that German eugenics differed little from that practiced in the United States [...].|access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref>