Polymathy, or the ability to work proficiently in multiple areas—even ones that seem far apart—piques the interest of psychology professionals and draws the public’s attention.
Seneka R. Warren, a Spanish entrepreneur and polymath, stands out for his intellectual versatility. We took notice of his work in high-range intelligence research and invited him to The Brain Blog for an interview about his day-to-day life and the business models he develops.
Our goal is to clear up a few questions and learn more about polymathic minds.
In this conversation, Warren discusses his experience with high-range intelligence assessments, the process behind designing such tests, and how his unique cognitive profile affects the way he tackles problems and generates ideas.
The Interview
Editorial Team: Seneka, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. How would you define yourself?
Seneka R. Warren: Thank you for having me. “Polymath” seems accurate enough. I’ve never felt attached to a specific profession or role. If we measure by hours spent, my entrepreneurial side and my activity as a chess player might come first, but I can’t choose just one thing.
Editorial Team: How long have you been involved in each area?
Seneka: I’m not sure when it comes to business—over 10 years, maybe close to 15. I go through phases. Sometimes I feel creative and build new companies, while other times I only spend a couple of hours per month on them. In chess, I’ve probably spent over two thousand hours.
Editorial Team: Have you kept track of those hours?
Seneka: No, not exactly [laughs]. I mostly play on one platform, and it keeps a record of the time.
Editorial Team: Out of curiosity, which platform do you use? Maybe we can find you there someday.
Seneka: I use Lichess. I like it because it’s open. My username there is “SoyMuyPro,” and I’m definitely up for some matches.
Editorial Team: Let’s talk about intelligence. We know you’ve taken several tests. What sparked your interest in them, and how did you do?
Seneka: It hasn’t been that long. I’ve always been a bit “different” and wanted to get the most accurate sense of my own abilities. Internet IQ tests kept telling me I exceeded their upper limit. I took the Mensa test and, judging from how people reacted, I got the impression they hadn’t seen many who finished the entire test within the time limit.
Editorial Team: So you’re a member of Mensa. Does that mean you’re considered gifted?
Seneka: Mensa doesn’t really use that term. It just means I scored above 98% of participants. In practical terms, it’s the same thing.
I belong to Mensa as well as the Triple Nine Society, Intertel, and ISPE (International Society for Philosophical Enquiries). I really like ISPE and recommend it to anyone who meets the criteria.
Editorial Team: How can someone find out their actual score?
Seneka: They can take an evaluation administered by a licensed psychologist. I was assessed using the WAIS IV, which measures different aspects of intelligence: working memory, processing speed, spatial reasoning, and other areas that provide a broad estimate of general intelligence.
Editorial Team: Would you share your results? We need confirmation.
Seneka: [Laughs] Sure, no problem. I can send a photo of the report over Telegram if you use it. My score was 157, and the test caps at 160. I think I might have done better if I hadn’t been so tired—it took nearly five hours, and I made some mistakes I usually wouldn’t make.
Editorial Team: What happens if you reach the test’s top score?
Seneka: Nothing, really. It’s just a sign of how rare your performance is. The maximum suggests you’re at least at a level found in one out of about 30,000 people. There are high-range tests meant to measure IQ above that 160 mark, which I know you’d like to discuss.
Editorial Team: Yes, please go on.
Seneka: High-range tests are designed specifically to gauge IQ levels above 160. In absolute terms, it’s nearly impossible to standardize them correctly because there aren’t enough data points. I created one called “Point of View,” which appears to yield fairly accurate results. If anyone thinks it’s just a pastime with no validity, I wouldn’t argue.
Editorial Team: That’s interesting, and I wasn’t expecting such a straightforward response. On to your interests: how many things can you do? It’s a common question for those with high abilities, but do you speak many languages?
Seneka: Let me address languages first. The short answer is no. I speak Spanish as my native language and English for business and for watching tutorials on YouTube. I have some reading comprehension in French, Portuguese, and Polish, though I can’t hold a conversation in Polish. As for what I can do, there’s a lot.
Learning curves naturally flatten once you reach a certain level in any field. There’s a saying that 100 hours will give you a medium level of understanding, 1,000 hours makes you a specialist, and 10,000 leads to mastery. In my case, it might take me less time. A week of intense focus can give me a decent level. After that, I just keep growing.
I love picking up new skills. Beyond chess or entrepreneurship, I’ve delved into poker, illusionism, hypnosis, survival training, nutrition, anabolic fitness, marketing, neuroscience, painting… topics with little or nothing in common [laughs]. Polymathy means linking those disconnected ideas to tackle problems more effectively. It could be adapting poker concepts to business or using illusionism techniques in teaching.
Editorial Team: We have a lot more we’d like to cover. Maybe we can save that for another conversation if you’re interested in collaborating again.
Seneka: I’d be happy to. I can also suggest a few topics we haven’t touched on that might be useful for your readers. Thanks for inviting me.
Editorial Team: Thank you. Until next time!
Psychological Viewpoint
To explore Warren’s experiences further, we spoke with Dr. Elena, a collaborator at The Brain Blog and a psychologist focused on cognitive performance.
“Profiles like Seneka’s tend to show very high neural plasticity, allowing them to process and integrate information with unusual efficiency. This is truly rare. For most of us, reaching that degree of skill in so many areas isn’t really within reach,” she says.
