Intellectual Overexcitability in High-IQ People
With an IQ of 130 or more, you may experience intellectual overexcitability.
Updated August 13, 2025 | Reviewed by Margaret Foley
This post is part 4 of a series (see Part 1 for recent, peer-reviewed studies supporting the prevalence and nature of overexcitabilities).
You are picking up on a phenomenon if you have a high IQ and often find your intellectual curiosity on overdrive just as your high-IQ brain is supercharged. The same goes for what you might observe in a child, student, or other smart person.
Intellectual overexcitability is one of five intensities that Polish researcher Kazimierz Dabrowski (1902–1980) found in intellectually gifted individuals. People with an IQ of 130 or above can have at least one of five OEs (which are emotional , imaginational , intellectual, psychomotor , and sensual ), most have two to five overexcitabilities (though they vary in dominance), and many (like me) may have all five. Part 1 of this series introduced the concept of overexcitability, and parts two through six delve into each overexcitability individually. This post will explore intellectual overexcitability.
What is intellectual overexcitability?
The markers of someone with intellectual OE are:
However, a gifted individual need not display every characteristic associated with intellectual overexcitability to have it, and some aspects of this overexcitability can be more dominant than others. For example, a gifted person might exhibit all of the characteristics listed above except “observant” or “strong visual memory,” yet still have intellectual overexcitability.
What specific strategies can parents and teachers use to help youth?
A student or child may show intellectual overexcitability, and someone guiding them can employ the following strategies to facilitate positive thinking , behavior, and outcomes:
The above strategies can also help intellectually overexcited student or child practice controlling the intensity of this overexcitability, leading to long-term success. Try what seems most appropriate for the youth’s particular characteristics.
In subsequent posts, we will explore psychomotor and sensual overexcitability. Though all five overexcitabilities share the commonality of being intensities that high-IQ individuals can experience, each has a unique profile and specific strategies that teachers and parents can employ.
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Jenny Grant Rankin, Ph.D., is a Fulbright Specialist for the U.S. Department of State.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.