10 questions to uncover your hidden genius: science says you might be smarter than you think

IOL News

26-06-2025

According to modern neuroscience and psychology, genius isn't always about sky-high IQ scores or academic accolades.
But according to modern neuroscience and psychology, genius isn't always about sky-high IQ scores or academic accolades.
What does it really mean to be a genius? For many of us, the word brings up images of Einstein scribbling formulas or child prodigies playing Mozart at age four.
It's often hidden in everyday habits, quirks, and patterns of thinking that most people overlook. This list isn't a formal intelligence test, but it is backed by science.
These 10 questions, drawn from real psychological studies, could reveal whether your brain works in ways that match some of the world's most gifted minds. So, are you secretly a genius? Let's find out.
1. Did you start reading before the age of five?
Early readers might have a cognitive edge. A long-term study published in Psychological Science tracked thousands of twins in the UK and found that children who learned to read earlier than their siblings scored significantly higher on verbal IQ tests even when raised in the same environment.
Early readers scored about 5 IQ points higher than later readers. This suggests that early literacy may shape intelligence, not just reflect it.
2. Do you talk to yourself, out loud or in your head?
We're often told that talking to ourselves is a little weird, but science says it's a sign of higher brain function.
A study in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology found that people who verbalised their thoughts while solving problems performed up to 78% better than those who stayed silent.
Self-directed speech helps improve focus, memory, and emotional regulation, all key components of executive brain function.
3. Are you sensitive to background noise or visual distractions?
If flickering lights or a buzzing fridge get on your nerves, it might be because your brain is unusually alert. Research published in Current Biology shows that highly intelligent people are often more sensitive to sensory input and struggle to "filter out" irrelevant sights or sounds.
People with high IQs show lower sensory gating, meaning their brains are more open to incoming stimuli. This could explain why working in a noisy café can feel like a mental battlefield.
4. Did you excel in subjects like maths even if you hated them?
A strong foundation in mathematics is one of the most reliable indicators of fluid intelligence, your brain's ability to reason and solve new problems.
A study published in the South African Journal of Education in 2022 found that matric students in the top 10% for maths scored up to 13 IQ points higher than those who favoured non-numerical subjects.
Even if you didn't enjoy maths, doing well in it often points to strong logical thinking and cognitive flexibility.
5. Do you often doubt your intelligence or feel like a fraud?
Welcome to the paradox of smart people. The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology explains this with the Dunning-Kruger effect: intelligent people tend to underestimate their abilities, while less competent individuals often overestimate theirs.
That "imposter syndrome" you're feeling? It might be a sign you're smarter than you think.
6. Are you curious?
Curiosity is one of the most underrated traits linked to intelligence. Researchers at Goldsmiths, University of London, found that highly intelligent people score much higher on measures of intellectual curiosity.
If you're the person always asking why, how, or what if, you may be feeding a brain that thrives on knowledge and complexity.
7. Do you love spending time alone?
You might enjoy your own company more than most. A study published in the British Journal of Psychology found that smarter people tend to experience greater life satisfaction when they have less frequent social interaction.
Highly intelligent people often crave deep focus and meaningful connection, rather than constant small talk.
8. Do you struggle with routines or get bored easily?
Creativity and intelligence often go hand in hand, and boredom is a known side effect of a brain that's always firing. The Creativity Research Journal links high intelligence with a preference for novelty, flexibility, and spontaneity.
P.S. If you're constantly daydreaming, jumping between ideas, or resisting the 9-to-5 grind, your brain may just be wired for innovation.
9. Are you emotionally sensitive?
We often forget that emotional intelligence (EQ) is just as important as IQ. Studies from Yale University's Center for Emotional Intelligence suggest that people with high emotional sensitivity often score higher in social cognition, a key marker of interpersonal genius.
Being in tune with your own emotions and others' isn't soft. It's smart.
10. Do you remember random facts or absorb info like a sponge?
If you tend to remember odd details from documentaries or conversations, you might have a brain that's especially good at semantic memory, the type of memory that holds general world knowledge.
Science says: Strong semantic memory is a core component of crystallised intelligence, which grows as we age and learn. Not all geniuses look like what we've been told.
You might not be building rockets or writing symphonies, but your everyday habits, your ability to self-reflect, adapt, and stay curious, could be the very things that make you brilliant.