26 Oct 05
This is not really a debate but a serious question. Do you feel that a person with a "malfunction" in one area of the brain will excell in another area? While I know that it won't be the case all the time, do you think this is the reason we have savants? Is the brain "over" compensating?
Saw this on CBS' 60 Minutes on Sunday and thought it was fascinating:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/20/60minutes/main957718.shtml
Thoughts please...
Regards,
Charlie
27 Oct 05
1 edit
Originally posted by chaswrayI can see where that certainly might be the case. I believe that if you have electricity or water, for example, flowing through two lines and one line is suddenly stopped that you will get a power/pressure surge in the the other line. Perhaps somethijjng similiar happens with blood flow to parts of the brain or electrical impluses to neurons.
This is not really a debate but a serious question. Do you feel that a person with a "malfunction" in one area of the brain will excell in another area? While I know that it won't be the case all the time, do you think this is the reason we have savants? Is the brain "over" compensating?
Saw this on CBS' 60 Minutes on Sunday and thought it was fasc ...[text shortened]... ews.com/stories/2005/10/20/60minutes/main957718.shtml
Thoughts please...
Regards,
Charlie
27 Oct 05
Originally posted by WulebgrFischer, in my opinion, would be a minor example. I guess the point I was trying to make was that the three examples on the show, would not be able to function independantly. Two of the three could not even button their own shirt and one was incontinent.
Bobby Fischer is a good example--genius at chess, incompetent in nearly every other aspect.
To be that impaired and yet function at such a high level in something else to me is amazing. Most of the cases I've seen are gifted either in math or music
27 Oct 05
Originally posted by DelmerThat's a nice analogy Del. Another question though, why do you suppose so many of these savants are gifted either in music or math?
I can see where that certainly might be the case. I believe that if you have electricity or water, for example, flowing through two lines and one line is suddenly stopped that you will get a power/pressure surge in the the other line. Perhaps somethijjng similiar happens with blood flow to parts of the brain or electrical impluses to neurons.
Regards,
Charlie
28 Oct 05
Originally posted by chaswrayI don't know, Charlie, but I wonder if it has something to do the non-verbal qualities of music and math.
That's a nice analogy Del. Another question though, why do you suppose so many of these savants are gifted either in music or math?
Regards,
Charlie
28 Oct 05
2 edits
Originally posted by chaswrayBecause math is "easy" in the sense that it is simply constructed. The genius in math is being able to think of very very clever ways to connect theorems and develop new mathematical truths. The first 15 years of math is essentially learning different algorithms or patterns. This is why I think a kid started his PhD in mathematics at my university at the age of 14. If you are extremely talented at grasping how the system works, you can excel rapidly.
That's a nice analogy Del. Another question though, why do you suppose so many of these savants are gifted either in music or math?
Regards,
Charlie
Musical composition is very tied to mathematics. So it doesn't surprise me that young children can excel in it.
Now when I find out about an 8-year-old who writes fine human drama, I'll reconsider.
28 Oct 05
1 edit
Originally posted by telerionWhat about that kid who could draw amazing architectural sketches (3D representations of buildings, both exisiting and conceptual) but lost the ability as he aged?
Because math is "easy" in the sense that it is simply constructed. The genius in math is being able to think of very very clever ways to connect theorems and develop new mathematical truths. The first 15 years of math is essentially learning different algorithms or patterns. This is why I think a kid started his PhD in mathematics at my university at t ...[text shortened]... in it.
Now when I find out about an 8-year-old who writes fine human drama, I'll reconsider.
EDIT: Questions have question marks even when they are long enough that I forget they are questions by the end of writing them.
28 Oct 05
Originally posted by DelmerThere are professionals that feel they use the math or music as their language. The little boy in the story on 60 Minutes could play Beethoven before he could say Mommy. But he's 10 or 11 now and still can't button his own shirt and has little social skills, emotionally immature also.
I don't know, Charlie, but I wonder if it has something to do the non-verbal qualities of music and math.
28 Oct 05
Originally posted by telerionYes but if a child has diffulculties in all other areas of development how can we assume that math or music are easy for them? I can see if they are genius as in Einstein or Nash, but what about someone who's incontinent, can't dress or feed themselves? How can we say that math or music is easy for them? Is it harder to button your shirt than it is to discern ten musical notes played at the same time?
Because math is "easy" in the sense that it is simply constructed. The genius in math is being able to think of very very clever ways to connect theorems and develop new mathematical truths. The first 15 years of math is essentially learning different algorithms or patterns. This is why I think a kid started his PhD in mathematics at my university at t ...[text shortened]... in it.
Now when I find out about an 8-year-old who writes fine human drama, I'll reconsider.