In her revealing new book, Dr Hannah Critchlow explains that the human brain contains 86 billion nerve cells, each linked to approximately 10,000 others, forming a circuit board of 86 trillion connections. The complexity of the three-pound organ in our heads is staggering, yet it evolved in a world vastly different from the one we inhabit today.
What Does It Mean to Be Intelligent in the 21st Century?
Dr Hannah Critchlow, a neuroscientist specializing in cellular and molecular neuroscience, asks what it means to be intelligent today and how we can enhance our thinking as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly pervasive. Drawing on recent research, Critchlow argues that emotional intelligence—the ability to recognize and manage emotions in ourselves and others—is the starting point. This is because it underpins successful collaboration, which will be a hallmark of the future.
The Importance of Connection and Mind-Wandering
Connection with others is central to intelligence and mental health, as demonstrated during the Covid lockdowns. A 2021 study found that scores in memory and intelligence tests dropped significantly during periods of isolation, only improving when social interaction resumed. Additionally, aspects of thinking often dismissed as time-wasting, such as mind-wandering—the ability to detach from the present and mentally travel—are crucial for creativity and problem-solving. Research indicates that we spend between 25 and 50 percent of our waking hours in this state.
Factors That Influence Intelligence
Various life factors impact intelligence. Short-term stress can drive excellence, but chronic stress is mentally debilitating. Gut health is closely linked to brain health, and exposure to the natural world offers significant benefits. A 2022 study of primary school children in Portugal found that those with access to green spaces performed better cognitively and had higher IQs than those without.
The Challenge of Cathedral Thinking
Perhaps our greatest challenge today is to engage in what is known as cathedral thinking—the long-term planning that enabled medieval builders to construct Europe's great Gothic cathedrals. Critchlow writes that while our brain may be innately drawn to short-term gratification, it is also capable of making and implementing grand plans over extended periods. The concern is that our capacity for cathedral thinking is being eroded by online distractions. A brain fit for the 21st century must delay immediate gratification and consider perspectives of ancestors and descendants.
Critchlow has written an empowering book that introduces readers to the latest neuroscience ideas and offers practical advice for equipping our brains to meet modern challenges.
