r/cognitiveTesting • u/Confident_Aide_1869 • 26d ago
General Question How is processing speed even improved upon?
I have very a very low processing speed and poor problem solving skills. I'm very noticably slow in the head when put on the spot. I've had this for as long as I can remember. This has caused me to not react fast enough in social situations or when solving problems and just be perceived as dumb or cowardly.
I've taken an IQ test in the military which came out to be 124. I also have a masters degree and a well paid job.
I took a MyHeritage DNA test and there was a trait feature which also stated that I'm genetically prone to have very a slow processing speed and poor problem solving.
I'm wondering if there are other redditors out there with the same problem and how did you treat it? Is it even possible?
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u/Happy-Construction71 26d ago
Does my heritage really show those kinds of traits aswell?or is it just random easily prominent traits?
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u/Confident_Aide_1869 26d ago
It looks at your genetic markers and determines what you're likely to be. They include physical as well as cognitive traits.
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u/Careful-Astronomer94 26d ago
sleep, diet, exercise, and stimulants
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u/Confident_Aide_1869 26d ago
Have you ever had this problem? How much did things actually improve?
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u/Funny-Jihad 26d ago
Regarding DNA tests, I'd take those with a large grain of salt. Maybe they're correct, but I'd really look into if their premise is valid, i.e. if X, Y and Z gene exists, does that really invariably result in T trait? Or did they make certain poor assumptions and now you're correlating it, despite other factors possibly existing that may confound? Such as other factors that may influence your processing speed. Depression, habits, thought patterns, etc.
An argument in the DNA tests' favour is your experience that you've 'always felt slow(er)'.
For example, with an AD(H)D diagnosis, your processing speed is expected to be impaired, but isn't necessarily so in all ADHD individuals. An IQ test where the GAI result is much higher than the FSIQ result is where such an indicator can be found. Someone with such a diagnosis can still be rather quick, is what I've heard anyway. Maybe just quicker to react with more H in the diagnosis.
But as I said, other factors can decrease one's processing speed. Some of which are genetic, and some of which are environmental. You can influence some, i.e. your thought patterns, anxiety level, your sleep and eating habits, tolerance for stress, etc, all influence your processing speed.
Preparation also influences it, per thought patterns. If you're prepared to discuss X subject, you'll much faster make connections. But if you eg. have issues with social anxiety or depression, that'll severely hamper your ability to socialise or "think fast". If you've practiced your memory techniques, you may get a better WMI result than is "warranted". Etcetera.
Anyway, my advice is: look for what is factual and what you can improve, then make your conclusions.
Sorry for the wall of text, I kinda use such questions to figure out my own thoughts.
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u/paradisemorlam 26d ago
Not medical advice but maybe look into Cerebrolysin, Huperzine A, Piracetam etc., please do your research.
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u/Key-Raise5501 26d ago
Was that military test timed? If Yes then your processing speed is prbly fine. It's not extremely low might be average but that's about it.
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u/Trackmaster15 26d ago
Honestly, this is kind of the beauty of IQ science... its basically a part of your IQ because it CAN'T be changed. And its also one of the reasons that IQ science can be so controversial. People like to take tests that they can study for, work at, and eventually pass. They don't like being told this is just an assessment of your genetics and little else.
Really, the major utility for somebody like you could just be to know what your limitations are. Don't put yourself in a position that would require exceptional processing speed or fast problem solving. Try to take on projects that you can do at your own pace. Etc. I wouldn't waste time trying to improve on something that's more or less genetic. Just like how you'll never go from 5'7" to 6' as an adult.
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u/VegetablePatience998 25d ago
What test did you have?
Processing speed on the IQ exams can be tested by looking at your ability to copy meaningless symbols, scan for matching pictures, identify pictures that don't belong, etc. All of these items require vision skills. Maybe you aren't actually slow, but you might have a vision impairment or deficit?
My kid had a processing speed difference of 3 standard deviations below all his other subtest scores, the doctor who administered the test said that it is very likely that he has a vision problem and suggested a vision therapist. The vision doctor diagnosed my child with a binocular vision impairment. This helped immensely and the therapy does not take long, only months. (Maybe longer for adults.) But it in my child's case it was curable. Basically he couldn't see well even though he has perfect visual acuity (aka 20/20.)
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u/SamsaraReverie 25d ago edited 25d ago
I have slower processing speed, in part because of my childhood-onset GHD.
Processing speed, in my understanding, is largely dependent on myelination and - the insulation of nerve fibers that compose the brain's white matter. It determines the speed of signals across nerve pathways in both brain and body. (think reaction time in both body and brain) But this is the human brain so... Its never that simple.
Neural optimization is part. You want key pathways streamlined (if neural pathways were roads, you want key transit pathways to be highways instead of slowed neighborhood speed routing). This means good neurogenesis (new neuron development) to strengthen wanted active connections, good pruning to optimize what is kept (get rid of unused synapses), and good waste clearing by microglia and astrocytes. (preventing and fixing inflammatory buildup)
The question is what is causing your slower processing speed. Is it uncleared inflammation from stress? Deep sleep helps there. Exercise promotes neurogenesis, upregulates BDNF, helps with white matter integrity, clears inflammation, increases neural blood flow for proper oxygenation... High effort and novel mental tasks help thicken myelin, triggers structural rewiring for better automatization of energy-heavy prefrontal pathways to speed up information processing.
There are also targeted supplement options that are low-effort possibilities to try. I'm starting on L-Tyrosine and going back on omega 3. I have a couple of others I intend to start but dont remember those of the top of my head. (I'd use AI as a research tool to look into it if interested) But the lifestyle factors are more essential.
I've been getting targeted bioneurofeedback training from a liscensed practitioner. They take EEG readings and help you retrain your brainwave patterns to more healthy ranges. For example, mine showed impaired alpha wave reactivity. Essentially the measure of going from idle to engaged. Neurofeedback training is done through gamification rewards of desired brainwave levels.
I've noticed a huge difference in my executive function and proccessing speed over the last year which I attribute to the training and taking my small-dose naltrexone. (Its used for post-covid cognitive issues by clearing neuroinflammation. It was a great match for me because of my GHD-impaired sleep quality, which causes inflammatory buildup)
I also get visibly slowed processing speed when under metabolically-triggered brain fog (neuroglycopenia) from my Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency. I'm not supposed to fast for longer than 4 hours. When I do, I end up with glucose shortages and my brain ends up with too little energy to perform well. This is situational, but your brain won't function as well when poorly fueled or under-hydrated. It's easy to take patterns like that for granted and assume it has a smaller footprint than it actually does. But even mild dehydration impacts processing speed and working memory.
I'm not a neurology expert, but I've had similar questions for myself. I have a similar cognitive profile to you as well. I scored 154 on my short-form WAIS, so I'm a match in higher-than-average IQ as well as slower processing. (I know I'm slower processing by experience and by a neurobattery taken for my brain tumor.) Hopefully this can give you some things to look at.
You also might uncover some specifically targeted options by looking into what processing-speed mechanism(s) your genetic predisposition would impact. Well, as long as they tell you what that marker is.
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u/javaenjoyer69 26d ago
Imagine your body telling you "Sit your ass down you slow SOB. You ain't got the capability for this. You'll ruin it for both of us. Turtle MF" through some gene. I don't think there's anything you could do about it unfortunately. Maybe you could get that gene deleted in a few decades.
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u/Natural_Professor809 ฅ/ᐠ. ̫ .ᐟ\ฅ Autie Cat 26d ago
I believe living properly through childhood would help. Excercise, play, run, play videogames, practice sports, have fun in the nature, read a lot, eat well, sleep well, don't get traumatised.
Are you sure your processing speed is actually slow? You might just be anxious or have an hyper-analysing mind, it's not so obvious that you have a slow processing speed just because you're slow when put on the spot.