Hi emc, 
I hope all is well!
You can find a lot of studies that point to higher IQ from meditating if you google it. As for purification, that may be one thing but I can tell you that in my experience, that thoughts of it (any cognitive process) can be a powerful contributor too.
So for starters, I have experienced periods where the brain seems to be in the process of functioning differently in some area and that there is a transition from the old to the new. I recently went through that with communication in general and the outcome seems to be favourable. The transition faze, not so funâŚlol.
In regards to how thoughts can sometimes impact these matters of the brain, for a sustained period of time over the last couple of years, I noticed that I seemed to be much less sharp in the memory department than usual. At some point I noticed that when trying to recall, my brain would first âvisitâ the thought of not remembering. Even if it was for only a micro second, that âvisitâ was enough to bring fourth the corresponding feelings of the experience of not being able to recall. This would cause a slight delay before my brain would then continue on to actually pulling up the information I initially was looking for. So I went from 1- saying internally something like, âwhat was that personâs nameâ to 2- thinking âoh I canât rememberâ and feeling frustrated to then 3- actually searching for the info. A little unnecessary side trip there in the middle.
Eventually after doing inquiry on that thought âI canât rememberâ and variations of it, I noticed the mind stopped making that side trip. Recently memory has been very sharp and another curious outcome of likely a purification period ending, is that now the information I want to know, names, things that have happened etc. are just there. They just pop up if I trust them. So the worry had been impeding the performance and have noticed this many times on many levels.
Just sharing for whatever itâs worth.
All the best!
A
Iâm not questioning the benefits of meditation on clarity and cognitive skills in general. Iâm just reporting it doesnât happen here as time proceeds. Might be a âmind creates realityâ case, and my thoughts and beliefs create the situation. If so, it will sort itself out eventually. Or not. And that will also be ok.
Iâm happy it seems to work fine for others.
Hello emc 
Just a thought from someone who is NOT a brain specialist. Or a yoga specialist, for that matter 
But I believe meditation is shifting my brain function from being left-brain dominant to more right-brain dominant. Or more balanced, perhaps. Language, especially written language, is more of a left brain activity. So is logic.
Sometimes words are so foreign to me. When I look at a huge block of text, my mind just shuts off sometimes and I canât process whatâs being said.
But my creativity, intuition, emotional capacity, and ability to live in the present moment have all increased. Words flow much easier when itâs a creative pursuit, rather than a technical one. Like Ether, I also do âleft-brainâ activities (like computer programming) from intuition rather than logic.
I donât know if this is what youâre going through, but I wouldnât be surprised if the IQ test favors left-brain intelligence. Considering that our whole society and education system favor the left brain.
This could all be wrong. But intelligence is so vast in scope, I doubt an IQ test has been created that can truly measure it. I hope you do not feel discouraged.
With Love
cosmic
Yes absolutely IQ is more left brain favored. But of course, the brain is not divided that simply, except for operating the left and right sides of the body, which are opposite in the brain.
And I agree with Anthem that there is a transition. I went through years of feeling like an idiot (but not caring) and when I had to do business at work I would have to cram before I talked to the boss so I looked intelligent.
But now, although there is a little preparation, I sometimes surprise myself with intelligent, fact-filled statements that are said quickly.
I donât know where that comes from, because I donât think quickly like that in general when it comes to words.
Another possibility is that we all are changing. There is quite a bit of theorizing on the net about âthe ascensionâ, and spiritual or cosmic energy going through us and changing our DNA. Some of the crop circles even seem to be messages about DNA changes. Scientists used to think that DNA didnât change over the short term. But recently they have found cases where it does (in animals anyway). Itâs evolution when that happens.
If youâre interested in this subject, see David Wilcock on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEyqT2_ricA
IMO, quite instrumental to discuss this on Apr 1st because IQ is like quicksand. Tasks like language, music, or sense of direction activate both brainhalves, so on one hand, meditation rewiring the brain into more âright-halvedâ probably doesnât change the total, except for an improved R-L balance. Some tests also indicate improved cognitive abilities among meditators.
Detachment on the other hand is much more tricky, as consciously manipulating & reorganizing things or thoughts no longer is the meaning of life; I get round the risk of de-motivation when I work for pure job satisfaction as opposed to achievements or excellence defined by others. That is, the same thoughts become less âimportantâ but they remain interesting. The feeling of Flow is similar to happiness: if genuine, it comes from within.
Any external ceremony stuff (appreciation, promotion, awards, pay hikes etc.) may help you stay on track when youâre a promising junior, but a master probably prefers to (say, on the day after an award) go straight to the same workplace and continue the same work.
My 2 cents.
If kundalini becomes rooted in Sahasrara (crown) prematurely, yes, there is brain damage.
Also, the first thing that kundalini does in the brain, after fixing the brain stem (the center of the
autonomic nervous system) is to get busy with the left frontal lobe (the conscious rational mind).
In that reorganization, some things are lost.
Of course Kundalini is a highly personal experiene, like all other things pertaining to consciousness;
Iâm merely speaking of the norm for the many people who have experienced this phenomenon.
Itâs also possible, due to the extreme freedom gained, to become âlazy in your enlightenmentâ.
So indeed, it is possible and even likely, for a time at least, to have changes to ones intelligence
level and ability to apply onseself in the world.
This is why self-pacing is so important.
-Kevin Cann