6 Intelligence Myths Exposed

1.Playing Brain Age
Many users start with little gaming experience, so it's not surprising that their scores improve — a phenomenon known as the practice effect. Sadly, there's no evidence that in-game gains translate to the real world. — Greta Lorge

2.Doing Crosswords
Some studies have reported that mental exercise can slow or reverse cognitive decline. But aging expert Timothy Salthouse of the University of Virginia says the evidence is all correlational, not causal: The respondents who were most drawn to mental exercise or pursued brain-intensive professions probably had greater cognitive reserves to begin with. So no, crossword puzzles probably won't fend off senility. What's a four-letter word for "commonly held but unproven belief"? Oh, right: myth. — G.L.

3.Eating Fish
before you take the bait, consider: Those studies trusted subjects to remember and report their dietary habits — a fishy procedure. A test of mice found that an omega-3-rich diet had no impact on cognitive function. And cold-water fish that are high in omega-3s are also likely to have elevated levels of methylmercury and PCBs, both known neurotoxins. It would be great if fish really were brain food. Unfortunately, we've got to throw this one back. — G.L.

4.Chewing Gum
The rationale: Chewing increases blood flow to the motor cortex and can trick the brain into expecting a meal. This triggers an increase in insulin production that could boost cerebral glucose levels — and thus smarts. Too bad a 2004 study found gum chewers to be less attentive than a control group. Looks like Mrs. Snodgrass was right after all. — G.L.

5.Listening to Music
In a recent study at Oregon Health and Science University, subjects exposed to a binaural pulse in the 3- to 8-Hz theta band (which is linked to working memory) showed no change in brain wave activity as measured by EEG. What's more, they actually became depressed and forgetful. If you wanted that, you'd just listen to Celine Dion. — G.L.

6.Taking Supplements
The supplements industry claims its products can boost your intelligence. Intelligent enough to check out the scientific basis for those claims? Pill purveyors better hope not. Here's how a few remedies rate on our snake oil scale. — Mathew Honan