Study shows these hobbies can increase IQ

Not only does reading improve vocabulary range, but it can also develop analytical and critical thinking as the constant stimulation trains the brain to problem-solve. Moreover, participants in the study commented that they felt more relaxed after a few weeks.

In second place, knitting improved participants’ IQ by 9.68 percent. Exercising and reading rank third and fourth respectively. However, volunteers in the category ‘joining an online gaming group’ commenced with the highest average IQ (104 to 109).

IQ tests are a tool to measure a range of cognitive reasoning skills such as problem-solving and logic. According to VeryWellMind, an average IQ test score is around 100, with different countries around the world varying between 59 and 108.

In first place is learning a new instrument with an IQ score increase of 9.71% with volunteers’ IQ before the study averaging 103 and averaging 113 after the study.

DIYS.com reveals that the most popular instrument to pick up was the guitar with 31 percent of participants favouring it.

Knitting takes second place with an increase of 9.68 percent with average IQ scores of 93 before and 102 after the six-month period. Not only is knitting a stress-reducing activity but it also engages cognitive stimulation.

Exercising ranks third with an IQ amelioration of 7.37 percent (95-102). Playing sports and exercising is a popular activity to increase happiness via the release of chemicals known as endorphins, in addition to dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.

According to Harvard Medical School, people who exercise have a larger brain volume in the memory and control-thinking areas.

Following in fourth place is reading as volunteers responded to a 7.07 percent IQ score increase. Participants were asked to read a new book every week and subsequently showed an average IQ increase score from 99 to 106.

Meditating takes fifth place with an IQ improvement of 6.38 percent (94100). Pilates (23 percent), yoga (21 percent) and mindful breathing (17 percent) were the most popular practices.

With constant distractions, meditation exercises our attention spans with evidence suggesting that long-term meditators are shown to have faster reaction times.

The following activities are ranked according to their average IQ increase after volunteers completed the activity:

Learning a new instrument - 9.71 percent

Knitting - 9.68 percent

Exercising - 7.37 percent

Reading - 7.07 percent

Practising meditation - 6.38 percent

Learning a new language - 5.88 percent

Gardening - 5.10 percent

Joining an online video game group - 4.81 percent

Making and editing videos - 4.26 percent

Trying new recipes every week - 4.17 percent

Starting to write/blog - 4.12 percent

Colouring in an art book - 3.96 percent

Daily journaling - 3.26 percent

Playing a new board game - 2.00 percent

Sewing - 1.03 percent.