Increasing Intelligence

The finding that working memory training can increase fluid intelligence triggered a great number of cognitive training studies, the results of which have been fiercely debated among experts. The finding also prompted a surge of commercial versions of these working memory training programs. Increasing Intelligence overviews contemporary approaches and techniques designed to increase general cognitive ability in healthy individuals. The book covers behavioral training and different electrical stimulation methods such as TMS, tDCS, tACS, and tRNS, along with alternative approaches ranging from neurofeedback to cognitive-enhancing drugs. It describes crucial brain features that underlie intelligent behavior and discusses theoretical and technical shortcomings of the reported studies, then goes on to suggest avenues for future research and inquiry. - Summarizes the history of attempts to raise intelligence - Describes the intelligence construct and the cognitive mechanisms thought to be at the core of intellectual functioning - Provides an overview of the neurobiological underpinnings of intelligence - Discusses the efficacy and limitations of behavioral training approaches and brain stimulation methods aiming to increase performance on working memory and intelligence tests - Examines the effects of neurofeedback, exercise, meditation, nutrition, and drugs on cognitive enhancement

Norbert Jau?ovec obtained a doctorate degree in psychology in 1985 at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. He started his professional career as a school psychologist. He has been employed at the University of Maribor since 1984 (until 2007 at the Faculty of Education and at the Faculty of Arts since then). In 1996, Dr. Jau?ovec was elected full professor for the domain of educational psychology. His scientific research deals with the cognitive processes that are involved in expert problem solving. The goal of his research is to relate different physiological measures such as heart rate and EEG to differences in problem solving between gifted and average-ability individuals. He also aims to transform theoretical findings into knowledge that can be used to improve students' problem solving ability. Besides universities in Slovenia, Dr. Jau?ovec has lectured at a number of distinguished universities in Europe and was, or still is, a member of the editorial board of the following journals: The Curriculum Journal (Taylor and Francis), BMC neuroscience (London: BioMed Central), and The Open Neuroimaging Journal (Hilversum: Bentham Science). As first author or co-author, Dr. Jau?ovec has published a wide variety of works, including three scientific monographs, two professional units and one textbook. He has published several scientific and professional articles which have more than 2000 citations.Affiliations and ExpertiseUniversity of Maribor, Slovenia; Neuropsychology, Educational Psychology