Brain Teasers:
Tantalize Your Mind

Brain teasers come in many shapes and sizes. They are designed primarily to provide education and entertainment.

But whether they can flex the mind enough to improve your IQ test score is a matter of debate.

Aside from the challenge of solving a teaser, some people are drawn to the opportunity to compete against other players, depending on how the web site providing them is set up. Puzz.com's scoring and multi-player zone offers visitors the chance to rank against other players. There is also an email list where you can get a teaser sent to you daily.

One of the best collections of links for brain teasers we've found is at barryispuzzled.com. Under the heading of Further Recommended Sites, you'll find teasers, riddles, puzzles, interactive games and more.

There is a daily brain test at Braingle.com that includes an archive of past teasers. This site allows visitors to register and submit riddles, rate puzzles and track the teasers.

Another great place to find innovative brain teasers is at The Brain Den. There's a wide collection of offerings -- from fun brain tests to puzzles, paradoxes and skill-testing problems. You can test your math skills, your visual/spatial perception abilities and linguistic chops, and even put yourself on the line and to the test by playing Sudoku and chess right on the site.

Check out their brain teaser offerings here.

There's some natural diminishing of mental processes as we age. That's a sad reality for us all. But by using a variety of fun puzzles and IQ games you can help train your brain and stay sharp, longer.

Here's the bad news. Recent studies have shown that brain drain starts as early as age 45. Yikes.

If that hasn't depressed you already, you can read more here.

On a more positive note, if you are looking to feed your brain with nutrients by knowing which vitamins, herbs and foods keep you sharp, there are plenty of sites we're recommending to keep you both busy and relaxed.

Of course, one of the best ways to boost your IQ is in the classroom. The right teacher -- and the right school -- can make all the difference in making the most of intellectual potential.

To better know your strengths and your potential, check out the IQ tests at Expert Rating. There's a wide range of IQ tests -- from the general to the specific -- that will help you get a sense of your the options that are open to you.