Honestly, it’s wild that we even have to talk about this in 2026. You’ve probably seen the weird corners of the internet where people try to dress up old-school prejudice as "science." They’ll use big words and grainy charts to argue that black women do not have the brain processing power of other groups. It’s a claim rooted in "race science" or "biological determinism," and to be blunt, it’s a total fabrication. It’s not just wrong; it’s a fundamental misunderstanding of how the human brain actually works.
Biology doesn’t work in neat little boxes defined by the census.
When you look at actual neuroscience, the "processing power" of a brain—what scientists usually call cognitive load capacity or neural efficiency—isn’t tied to melanin. It’s just not. But the myth persists because it’s a convenient way to explain away systemic gaps in education or wealth without actually fixing the systems. We're going to tear apart where this "processing power" myth came from and what the peer-reviewed data actually shows about cognitive health and potential.
The Flawed Origins of "Processing Power" Metrics
The whole concept of ranking human intelligence by race started centuries ago. Think about Samuel Morton in the 1800s. He literally filled skulls with mustard seeds and lead pellets to "prove" white people had larger brains. He was wrong. His data was biased. But that ghost still haunts us today. Modern internet trolls have just swapped mustard seeds for "processing power" to make it sound like they're talking about computers instead of people.
There is zero evidence that there are "hard-wired" differences in the architecture of the brain between races. In fact, most geneticists will tell you there is more genetic variation within a single racial group than there is between two different ones.
If you look at the work of Dr. Joseph Graves Jr., an evolutionary biologist, he’s spent his career showing that "race" is a social construct, not a biological one. The brain is plastic. It grows, adapts, and "processes" based on environment, nutrition, and stress. If someone is struggling with a cognitive task, it’s almost always a question of resources and "Stereotype Threat" rather than a lack of innate hardware.
✨ Don't miss: High Protein in a Blood Test: What Most People Get Wrong
What is Stereotype Threat?
It’s a real psychological phenomenon. Dr. Claude Steele and Dr. Joshua Aronson did the ground-breaking research on this back in the 90s. Basically, if you tell a student they belong to a group that is "naturally" worse at math, they will perform worse on a math test. Not because they can't do the math.
But because the anxiety of confirming that negative stereotype eats up their working memory. It clogs the very "processing power" people claim they don't have. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy fueled by societal pressure, not DNA.
Real Data vs. Pseudoscience
When people talk about black women do not have the brain processing power they often point to IQ scores. But let’s be real: IQ tests are a measurement of what you’ve learned and how you’ve been socialized as much as they are about "raw" intellect.
Look at the "Flynn Effect." IQ scores have been rising globally for decades. This suggests that as nutrition and education improve, "processing power" appears to increase across the board. It’s environmental.
Specific studies, like those published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, show that cognitive performance in Black women is heavily influenced by "weathering." This is a term coined by Dr. Arline Geronimus. It describes how the literal, physical body—including the brain—ages prematurely due to the chronic stress of discrimination and socioeconomic hurdles.
🔗 Read more: How to take out IUD: What your doctor might not tell you about the process
- Stress hormones like cortisol can shrink the hippocampus.
- Chronic hypertension, which disproportionately affects Black women due to systemic health disparities, can impact blood flow to the brain.
- None of this is about "innate power." It's about how the world treats the person.
The Genius Gap is a Resource Gap
Let's look at the actual achievements. If the processing power wasn't there, we wouldn't see Black women leading in fields that require the highest levels of cognitive complexity. We’re talking about Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, the viral immunologist who was a lead scientist in developing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. We’re talking about Katherine Johnson, who literally did the "processing" that put humans on the moon when the computers of the time weren't reliable enough.
These aren't "exceptions to the rule." They are the result of what happens when the barriers are lowered even slightly.
The human brain is an incredibly hungry organ. It uses about 20% of your body's energy. For a brain to "process" at its peak, it needs stability. It needs sleep. It needs a lack of trauma. When we see disparities in test scores or career outcomes, we aren't looking at a lack of neural capacity. We're looking at a "bandwidth" issue caused by external stressors.
Think of it like a high-end laptop trying to run 50 background apps at once. The laptop is powerful, but the resources are being diverted. Systemic racism, the "double jeopardy" of being both Black and female, and the resulting economic pressures are those background apps.
How to Protect and Optimize Cognitive Health
If we want to talk about maximizing "processing power," we should be talking about health equity. Instead of debating debunked theories, we should focus on the things that actually help the brain thrive.
💡 You might also like: How Much Sugar Are in Apples: What Most People Get Wrong
Prioritize Neuroprotection
The brain needs specific interventions to stay sharp, especially when dealing with high-stress environments. Managing blood pressure is arguably the most important thing for long-term cognitive health. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a leading cause of vascular dementia and cognitive decline. Because Black women are at a higher risk for hypertension due to both genetic predispositions and—more significantly—environmental stressors, managing this is a direct way to "protect" processing power.
Sleep is Non-Negotiable
During sleep, the brain’s glymphatic system flushes out toxins. It’s basically a car wash for your neurons. Research shows that Black women often face a "sleep gap" due to neighborhood noise, work shifts, or caregiving responsibilities. Improving sleep quality isn't just about feeling rested; it's about neural maintenance.
Cognitive Reserve Building
This is the brain’s ability to improvise and find alternate ways of getting a job done. You build this through lifelong learning. Whether it’s picking up a new language, learning to code, or even complex gaming, these activities create new synapses. The "power" isn't a fixed amount you're born with; it's a muscle you build.
Community and Mental Health
Isolation is a neurotoxin. Building strong social networks and seeking therapy to handle the impact of "weathering" can literally change your brain chemistry. It reduces the cortisol that would otherwise dampen cognitive flexibility.
The conversation about "brain processing power" is often just a distraction. It’s a way to keep people from looking at the real, tangible factors that determine success and health. The science is clear: the capacity is there. It’s the environment that needs an upgrade.
Actionable Next Steps
- Get a baseline health check: Schedule a physical to check your blood pressure and Vitamin D levels, both of which are critical for cognitive function and disproportionately impact Black women's health.
- Audit your "bandwidth": Identify the "background apps" (stressors, toxic environments, or negative self-talk) that are draining your mental energy and create a plan to minimize them.
- Engage in "Deep Work": Practice 30-minute intervals of high-focus tasks without distractions to strengthen your prefrontal cortex and improve neural efficiency.
- Challenge the narrative: When you encounter "race science" online, look for the source. If it’s not from a peer-reviewed neuroscience journal or a reputable university, it’s likely junk science designed to stir up clicks.
The focus should always be on what we can control: our health, our boundaries, and our continued education. The "processing power" is already there; the goal is to give it the environment it needs to run at full speed.