WHILE your I.Q. is basically determined at birth, Wired says, “still, there are lots of ways to get smarter  to max out your so-called functional intelligence” at work and elsewhere.

These are among the ways listed:

¶Discover. “Learning new things actually strengthens your brain  especially when you believe you can learn new things,” Steve Knopper writes. “It’s a virtuous circle: When you think you’re getting smarter, you study harder, making more nerve cell connections, which,” he says, makes you smarter.

¶Don’t panic. “While a little nervousness can boost cognitive performance, periods of intense stress essentially turn us into Neanderthals,” Eric Hagerman writes. Try to control your breathing. Yoga could help.

¶Drink tea. “Caffeine jump-starts the body and sharpens the mind,” Mathew Honan says. “But studies show that we Yanks are doing it all wrong” by drinking coffee and high-energy drinks. “For optimal brain gain, regular tea breaks” are the way to go, he writes. Small doses throughout the day are more effective than one huge drink.