12 Signs that are Underrated of Smart People

Many skills considered negative or completely useless can reveal high brain activity in an individual. At least, that’s what scientists say. But what will these peculiarities be? And how do they differentiate us from others?

O awesome.club selected several signs that, according to experts, reveal the existence of a brilliant mind.

In an article published in 1995, New York writer Maria Konnikova described an experiment that was performed between lefties and righties: “Left-handed people were better at, for example, combining two common objects in a new way to create a third. They also excelled at grouping word lists into general categories.”🇧🇷

Later, scientists associated left-handedness with a “divergent thinking”, a form of creativity that allows them to generate new ideas. The same can be said about the ambidextrous: people who have developed skills with both hands, equally.

So if you’re right handed, try doing some everyday things with your left hand and vice versa. These actions encourage the development of certain areas in your brain.

In one study, researchers asked 126 high school students to complete questionnaires about how often they feel worried about something, pay attention to rumors, or think about situations in which they feel uncomfortable.

The children who worried the most were found to score higher on subsequent nonverbal intelligence tests. The researchers attribute this to the fact that concerned people take their jobs more seriously and try to get them done at a higher quality than others.

Another interesting study was conducted at the University of New Mexico. There, tests were conducted with 400 students to measure their abilities and reflect their verbal intelligence when discussing certain topics. After passing the exams, they were asked to come up with some titles for some cartoon images.

These titles were analyzed by independent examiners. The result was that 86% of the smartest students, who scored the most on the test, chose funny phrases for these pictures. Later, a similar study was carried out, but already among comedians, and they all scored above average on tests of verbal intelligence.

Why does it happen? Scientists believe that mood affects intelligence, as it keeps the brain and our nervous system in sync, making us smarter.

Researchers at the University of Psychology in London point out the following: “A curious child is more likely to be an innovative adult in the future than one who just memorizes what he learns.”

Professor Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic explains, in Harvard Business Review, how curiosity and a “hungry mind” make us smarter. According to him, “curiosity, from childhood, makes the child more interested in science and art as a means of cognitive and self-expression”.

In an extensive British study, researchers looked at 6,000 people who were born in the last 50 years. They found that 11-year-olds who scored higher on an IQ test seemed more curious and open to new experiences in the future.

If you are a “night bird”, your intelligence level is probably above average. According to the researchers, this may be related to high brain activity, which challenges routine biorhythms.

In a study published by the journal Personality and Individual Differencesthe connection between childhood intelligence and sleep habits in thousands of young people was analyzed. It turned out that most intelligent people prefer to wake up later, both on weekdays and weekends. Another similar survey studied 400 new US Air Force recruits, reaching similar conclusions.

If you tend to be distracted by social media, notifications, frequent coffee breaks, or even “turning off” during conversations, chances are you’re smarter than the rest. At least, that’s what the researchers say.

According to a recent study, the harder it is for a person to keep their mind focused, the smarter they are. Scientists explain that this is related to high levels of brain activity, which escape self-control.

American scientists conducted a statistical study and found that residents of cities built exclusively with a walking approach have a higher intellectual rating than people who live in neighborhoods where the car is prevalent as a means of transportation. The same result was achieved in a study of individual pedestrian districts of major cities.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is the result of a study by Justin Kruger and David Dunning, which has become a classic of social psychology. The conclusion is as follows: the smarter a person is, the more he doubts his cognitive abilities.

In other words, the smart people aren’t afraid to say “I don’t know”. If you don’t know something, you can research about it.🇧🇷 So if you’re a person who has constant doubts and isn’t afraid to ask questions, chances are you’re more capable than many.

Smart people are able to control their impulsiveness and are great at controlling their emotions. They also think about the consequences before doing something.

In a well-known psychological study, participants were asked to choose between two prizes: less money now or more money within a year. The results showed that participants who chose more money, that is, those who had a high level of self-control, scored higher on various tests and achieved greater success in the future.

According to the researchers, those who easily find a reason to miss a day at the gym also have a higher cognitive demand.

Most intelligent people tend to put off their tasks, an issue that has already been diagnosed by many scientists. For example, psychologist Adam Grant notes that delay is the key to innovation. Steve Jobs himself knew how to use procrastination strategically, allowing his brain to rest and “change the chip” for other purposes.

Chewing gum is known to increase brain activity and concentration, but only for 20 minutes. However, recently, scientists have discovered that the habit of constantly chewing is typical of many intelligent people. By his estimates, when we do this, our minds are more open to reflection and introspection.

It is known that the great genius Leonardo da Vinci was adept at polyphasic sleep. He slept 20 to 30 minutes every 4 hours. Why did he do this?

The point is, the brains of smart people work harder; therefore, they get tired faster, but they also recharge quickly. To relieve fatigue and look at the problem from a new angle, you must “reset” your mind. That is, take a nap, even if it’s just for 20 minutes.