Scientists Scan My Brain to See If I’m a Genius

The other day I got an invitation to a windowless office building in downtown Manhattan to get a quantitative electroencephalogram, which is designed to measure brain wave patterns as electrical signals. It is being increasingly used to analyze various aspects of brain function, including things like cognitive flexibility, intelligence, and even creativity. Then I’ll be jumping on a call with the neuroscientist Andrew Hill, who has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA. He analyzed my brain and the results honestly shocked me.

0:00 Intro
0:31 I take an “IQ” test?
0:54 I get the brain scan!
2:37 Scientists read my brain waves
3:09 Interview with neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Hill
3:27 Response control test results
5:11 Attention test results
5:35 My conclusions re: my “intelligence” or lack thereof
5:45 Does my brain processes languages differently?
7:18 My brain scan results
8:25 Is my brain OCD?
8:47 Why am I so tired all the time?
9:08 Looking at my brain connectivity
10:33 My brain is really sensitive
11:13 How fast my brain is
11:52 Am I getting enough sleep?
12:23 Is my brain gifted?
13:07 My conclusions re: my brain scan results
13:20 Concluding thoughts

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[miralabualjadail]

“I don’t have any tics” he says while blinking his eyes rapidly. Seriously how did they not pick up on that?! 🤣🤣🤣

[TheVampireAzriel]

Doc: "You might have a stutter"
Xioma: stutters.

Don't worry, I do it too.

[captchagod]

this may be the first "scientists studied my brain" videos i've seen where the results were actually detailed and accurate

[bobskewer]

I feel like there was an opportunity to have you speak different languages during this scan to see the levels and locations of brain activation when that thought process is engaged. But they probably have a standard set of initial tests. Perhaps a part 2 when the sleep issue is addressed?

[loolafly]

I’m an ex neurology nurse who worked in medical neurology which focuses alot of patients who have brain disorders and especially epilepsy so a telemetry of Ecgs was a huge part of the job as a whole. You do have an amazing talent for leaning languages and he expressed this to you when he was explaining how acute and sensitive your hearing is which also goes in line with you having the “Princess and the pea” symptoms. I feel you brushed this off a little when he was telling you but you don’t seem to take compliments easily I guess ?
We have similarities in our brains and that’s my reason for writing to you. I want you to especially take in and pay attention to him telling you about your sleep issues and how your brain is running slow. I am exactly the same but just went with it as it was all I knew throughout my life. I’m hypersensitive to things around me and also have sleep problems. I really pushed myself in nursing as I had a talent in it but like you I was running at half mast. PLEASE take this seriously as I didn’t know this until it was too late. I went about 15 years working and studying - as I moved into critical care nursing that requires alot of in house and additional education and courses whilst working full time and doing 2 weeks night a week. So I started to get sick and they considered MS in the beginning which is how it came about of me getting checked in neurology like this and by that time it was way to late. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go and see a specialist as it can and has with myself lead to a whole host of auto immune diseases and others that I can’t stop or go back. We just manage the symptoms and try to slow down the progression of my disease. I have went from very healthy/active living busy life to now being disabled. So please can you see a specialist and first of all address the sleep disorder and other potential problems. I would hate for this to happen to someone else when you have the beginning of information to work on so good luck ! FYI you absolutely have a tick with your eyes I think it’s stress and concentration triggered lol.

[robertgossett]

🤣😂🤣 I could help but laugh. He’s so talkative and asking so many questions and her repetitive “yes” had me cracking up!

[ElliotJoffe]

"i don't have any ticks" he said as he blinked 1, 000 times in 1 second

[vincegable]

I find it weird you say you don't have any ticks. Your blink pattern is one of the 1st things I noticed watching your videos. I thought at 1st it was from visual stimuli but having watched for a year, it a compulsive tick.

[daniellekernan]

As a physician, I can say this is a wildly inaccurate depiction of how any neurocognitive or intelligence testing is done.

[toutenunmot]

Was any of the information shared by the neuroscientist ultimately actionable to increase your wellbeing Xiaoman? If so, I think we all would love to see a followup video. Thanks for sharing this as I imagine it may not have been easy on the emotions to be "revealed" like that.

[aiocafea]

xiaoma ticing his eyes constantly: 'i don't have any tics'

[AlgoCurioso]

*Xiaoman talks*

Monica:
- yeah
-yeah
-yes
-yes
-yeah
-yes
-Yyyes
-yeah
-Yeah

[Justsayinbruh]

When I was 4 yrs old, my parents got me tested as well bc I was able to count to 100 with my eyes closed. They thought I they had something special. They were disappointed with the results 🤷‍♂️

[MeiMeiandPorgi]

My last job was like this. Loved it! But his software pulls way more info to share than mine did. So fun to watch!

[TotalBlank]

This was extremely informative and yeah, unfortunately, as much as it sucks to say, anyone watching your videos can tell you have an eye tick and a mild stutter especially when it comes to other languages, it's even more pronounced, but it's really not big deal. The work you do and the learning you've achieved over the years is extremely impressive and so many people would kill to be in a position where they could learn a 2nd or even 3rd language. Keep it up!

[theo-avl]

I have sleep apnea. Getting diagnosed and treated was a profound change. A lot of what you discussed about sleep and tiredness sounded very similar.

[yasnazzal]

Lucky for me, I don't have to do all these tests to find out I'm an idiot

[meechiebaby]

Xiaoma, you do have a tic, hon. It occurs when you blink. You have a tendency to squeeze your eyes tightly closed after the fourth or fifth blink. I noticed it a while ago. I certainly wouldn't have mentioned it if it weren't brought up during your scan results. It's hardly noticeable, but those "hardly noticeable" things are what I see easily. I love your channel! Keep up the great work, Xiaoma. Take care, and please get some sleep. Sending hugs from Pennsylvania.

[TheHighlanderprime]

Man! I’ve learned so much about my own issues from your brain mapping. I am very sleep deprived just like you. I think it explains some of my occasional memory issues specially with names etc.

[ejstras]

There's definitely some statistical backing to certain aspects of the analysis. Although, a lot of it seems similar to a psychic. Asking pointed questions or observing somebody's behavior to make assumptions that are likely to be correct. Then, passing it off as purely scientific.