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Many renowned thinkers, including Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin, displayed peculiar habits such as seeking isolation and working late into the night.

Even though people around the globe might consider these habits strange, many research papers have connected them with higher intelligence levels.

That is because

Our everyday habits significantly influence our intellect – and they can also alter how we process information.

And
psychologists have pinpointed
At minimum seven peculiar actions that they consider indicators of brilliance.

1. Talking to yourself

Talking to oneself doesn’t make one insane; in fact, it could indicate that you’re more intelligent compared to most people.

Despite being rather illogical, an increasing amount of research indicates that this behavior offers significant mental advantages — such as improved memory retention, enhanced confidence, sharper focus, and additional perks.

In a study conducted in 2012, a group of American researchers presented 20 images of different items to participants and tasked them with locating a particular object among them.

Researchers discovered that individuals who spoke aloud while viewing the pictures could recognize the objects more quickly.

A 2017 study carried out by researchers from the UK found that our brains function similarly to those of monkeys when we cease internal speech. In these instances, distinct sections of the brain responsible for visual and auditory processes activate separately for each task.

In the experiment, researchers asked participants to repeat meaningless sounds out loud, such as ‘blah-blah-blah,’ while performing visual and sound tasks.

‘Because we cannot say two things at the same time, muttering these sounds made participants unable to tell themselves what to do in each task,’ Paloma Mari-Beffa, senior lecturer at Bangor University, wrote in
The Conversation
.

‘Under these circumstances, humans behaved like monkeys do, activating separate visual and sound areas of the brain for each task.’

So the next time you’re caught muttering to yourself, don’t be embarrassed. That strange habit is helping you process information and stay sharp.

2. Staying up late

The early bird may get the worm, but evidence has suggested that night owls actually have higher IQs.

A research paper, released in January, was analyzed
Data from 26,000 adults revealed that individuals who prefer staying up late performed considerably better on cognitive assessments compared to early birds.

In one set of data, night owls performed approximately 13.5 percent better than those who wake up early, whereas in another dataset, they outperformed morning people by around 7.5 percent.

Numerous exceptional individuals have been recognized for their nightly routines, such as Darwin and Marcel Proust.

If your brain becomes particularly sharp when everyone else is asleep, you might possess a higher intelligence quotient.

3.  Daydreaming

Wandering off into fantasies is commonly seen as being distracted. However, researchers suggest that this might be an indication of intelligence and creativity.

“People whose brains function efficiently might possess an excess of cognitive resources, which allows their thoughts to drift,” explained Eric Schumacher, a Georgia Tech associate psychology professor, in a statement.

His findings indicate that individuals who experience more frequent daydreaming tend to achieve better scores on assessments of intellectual and creative capabilities.

The MRI scans also revealed that these individuals possessed more efficient brain systems.

This evidence indicates that daydreaming is indeed an excellent exercise for your brain. Therefore, if you notice your thoughts drifting, that’s a positive indication.

4. Thriving in clutter

Some people can’t stand a messy room or desk. But the highly intelligent don’t seem to mind it – or perhaps even prefer it.

A team of researchers set out to determine why that is. They put study participants in either a messy or tidy office space and asked them to come up with new uses for ping pong balls.

Though both groups came up with a similar number of ideas, the researchers found that the participants in the messy room came up with more creative and interesting ideas.

‘Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition, which can produce fresh insights,’ said Kathleen Vohs, lead scientist behind the experiment, in a press release.

‘Orderly environments, in contrast, encourage convention and playing it safe.’

Therefore, keeping your area messy might encourage creative thinking.

5. Posing numerous queries

If you’re constantly asking how things work, where they come from, and dozens of other questions that pop into your head, you’re probably highly intelligent.

Curiosity is one of the most common signs of brightness. It’s a sign that your mind is always seeking to understand the world around you.

It also means that you’re always learning and storing new information. The more questions you ask, the more your understanding expands.

To some, it may seem annoying. But for people with high IQs, this insatiable curiosity is natural.

As Einstein once said, ‘I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.’

6. Being introverted

Many geniuses have been known to hide themselves away to work or think in peace and quiet.

This makes sense as it’s tough to concentrate when you’re amidst the ongoing noise and excitement of a social setting.

Moreover, research indicates that introverts often exhibit deeper cognitive processing compared to extroverts. They usually ponder more deeply and analytically, potentially linking this trait to having a higher IQ.

Introverts often lean towards activities that demand focus and prolonged mental exertion, like reading and researching, thereby promoting cognitive growth.

7. Devouring books

Enthusiastic book lovers continuously acquire fresh knowledge, expand their lexicon with new terms, delve into intricate concepts, and explore varied viewpoints. This activity is akin to exercise for the brain.

Additionally, reading helps strengthen mental focus, imagination and our ability to empathize with others.

People who read a lot are constantly developing their intelligence, which means they’re more likely to have a high IQ.

Take business mogul and investor Warren Buffet for example. He spends almost eight hours a day reading.

So if you constantly have your nose in a book, you’re actually getting smarter by the page.

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