Originally posted by: Jeff7
What's the maximum capacity of a human brain?
I'd want not only a higher IQ, but also a brain that is more prone to try to structure itself logically. I'd like something that makes more efficient use of the volume within the skull. When nature "designs" things, it works backward from how we engineer things. It tries something, and if it works well enough, it keeps it. We like to predict the outcome, and design for that purpose. I would like something like that, something designed logically, purpose-built for receiving, interpreting, storing, and recalling information quickly and effectively. I understand that the hippocampus has some role in long-term memory, so perhaps something with a similar function, but more capable would be a nice addition too
With improved structuring would likely come quicker learning, and better focus - with this improved structuring, there would be less need to control our natural and rather irrational or even random impulses. Without this distraction, that would leave even more resources available to the already enhanced mind.
Yeah, that's what I'd want out of a new brain. Sure, nature's granted us something a bit excessively intelligent for pure survival. But it's only given us a small glimpse of what sentience can really do.
Originally posted by: Flyback
LoL. Are you suggesting that you're higher than 140? Hell, some Nobel physicists were in the 130 range.
Really? Huh.....interesting.
I got into the gifted program in elementary school. I remember a bit about the test - there were some things involving various configurations of shapes, and remembering their colors or arrangement. And I remember that I was asked which continent Chile was on. I thought it was on Asia; I never really had much interest in political geography. Things like elevation maps, I like looking at them; satellite images too. Borders just didn't seem important.
But I think the gifted program's cutoff limit is an IQ of 130. For some reason, the number 136 always stuck in my mind.
I find that stories like
this one are inspiring. I just wish we knew more about why some people are so exceptionally quick to learn certain things. Is it hardware, or is it all in the software?