Experts reveal the seven odd behaviors linked to a high IQ

Some of the greatest minds, such as Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin, exhibited strange behaviors like solitude and burning the midnight oil. 

And while the world may have found those habits as odd, numerous studies have linked them to having high IQs. 

That is because our daily practices have a big impact on our intelligence - and can even change the way we think. 

And psychologists have pinpointed at least seven strange behaviors that they believe are signs of a genius. 

1. Talking to yourself

If you talk to yourself, you're not crazy. It may actually be a sign that you're smarter than the average person.

Even though this behavior is somewhat irrational, a growing body of evidence has suggested that it has big cognitive benefits - including better memory recall, confidence, focus and more.

In a 2012 study, a team of American researchers showed participants 20 pictures of various objects and asked them to find a a specific one. 

Scientists found that people who talked to themselves while looking at the images were able to identify the object faster.

Another study, conducted in 2017 by UK researchers, discovered that our brains act much like those of monkeys when we stop talking to ourselves - activating separate visual and sound areas of the brain for each task. 

In the experiment, researchers asked participants to repeat meaningless sounds out loud, such as 'blah-blah-blah,' while performing visual and sound tasks. 

'Because we cannot say two things at the same time, muttering these sounds made participants unable to tell themselves what to do in each task,' Paloma Mari-Beffa, senior lecturer at Bangor University, wrote in The Conversation.

'Under these circumstances, humans behaved like monkeys do, activating separate visual and sound areas of the brain for each task.'

So the next time you're caught muttering to yourself, don't be embarrassed. That strange habit is helping you process information and stay sharp. 

2. Staying up late 

The early bird may get the worm, but evidence has suggested that night owls actually have higher IQs. 

A study, published in January, analyzed data from 26,000 adults, finding those who stay up late scored significantly higher on cognitive tests than early risers.

Night owls scored about 13.5 percent  higher than morning types in one group and 7.5 percent higher than morning types in another group.

Many brilliant minds have been known to have nocturnal habits, including Darwin and Marcel Proust. 

If your mind is most active while the rest of the world sleeps, you may have a high IQ.

3.  Daydreaming

Getting lost in daydreams is often perceived as absent-mindedness. But scientists have said that this is actually a sign that you're smart and creative.

'People with efficient brains may have too much brain capacity to stop their minds from wandering,' said Eric Schumacher, a Georgia Tech associate psychology professor, said in a statement.

His research found that people who report more frequent daydreaming score higher on intellectual and creative ability tests.

MRI scans also showed that these people had more efficient brain systems. 

This evidence suggests that daydreaming is actually a great workout for your brain. So if you find your mind wandering, that's a good sign.

4. Thriving in clutter

Some people can't stand a messy room or desk. But the highly intelligent don't seem to mind it - or perhaps even prefer it. 

A team of researchers set out to determine why that is. They put study participants in either a messy or tidy office space and asked them to come up with new uses for ping pong balls.

Though both groups came up with a similar number of ideas, the researchers found that the participants in the messy room came up with more creative and interesting ideas. 

'Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition, which can produce fresh insights,' said Kathleen Vohs, lead scientist behind the experiment, in a press release.

'Orderly environments, in contrast, encourage convention and playing it safe.' 

So, leaving your space untidy may help you think outside the box. 

5. Asking lots of questions

If you're constantly asking how things work, where they come from, and dozens of other questions that pop into your head, you're probably highly intelligent.

Curiosity is one of the most common signs of brightness. It's a sign that your mind is always seeking to understand the world around you.

It also means that you're always learning and storing new information. The more questions you ask, the more your understanding expands.  

To some, it may seem annoying. But for people with high IQs, this insatiable curiosity is natural. 

As Einstein once said, 'I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.'

6. Being introverted 

Many geniuses have been known to hide themselves away to work or think in peace and quiet.

It makes sense - it can be difficult to focus while surrounded by the constant chatter and stimulation of a social environment. 

Plus, studies have shown that introverts tend to engage in deeper cognitive processing than extroverts. They tend to think more thoroughly and critically, which can be associated with a higher IQ.

Introverts also tend to prefer activities that require concentration and sustained mental effort, such as reading and research, which can foster intellectual development. 

7. Devouring books 

Avid readers are constantly learning new information, vocabulary words, complex ideas and different perspectives. It's like a workout for the mind.

Additionally, reading helps strengthen mental focus, imagination and our ability to empathize with others. 

People who read a lot are constantly developing their intelligence, which means they're more likely to have a high IQ.  

Take business mogul and investor Warren Buffet for example. He spends almost eight hours a day reading. 

So if you constantly have your nose in a book, you're actually getting smarter by the page.