Here are a couple of short extracts from chapter 6 (on creativity) of my new book 'Embracing the Wide Sky: A Tour Across the Horizons of the Mind':
"Like the philosophers of the past, today’s neuroscientists are seeking to understand what makes some people especially creative. Some believe the answer to this age-old enigma can be found in the biology of the brain. Synaesthesia, the scientific term for a mingling of the senses, offers a valuable window on how the brain produces original, creative thoughts, according to neurologist Vilayanur Ramachandran who has been studying the phenomenon for the past two decades"
(From a later section of the chapter:)
"Linguists have long been intrigued by cases of healthy young children (usually twins) who invent their own languages between themselves, without any special assistance or training from adults...This exuberant invention of original word forms by young children has been documented in a range of languages around the world, suggesting that such creativity may be a natural part of the process by which some children acquire a full grasp of their native language."
The book is available now for purchase online at: www.amazon.com/Embracing-Wide-Sky-Across-Horizons/dp/1416569693
3 comments:
As I see it in non-neuroscientific way :) , creativiness depends on openness of the mind. Ability to see different ways of solving the problem and to accept different points of view. It also depends on ability to go beyond. Beyond rules or borders.
It seems that creativity is the core of Language. Language develops and is dynamic due to it. It's obvious that new words, new word-combinations, etc can't appear without at least a pinch of creativity.
Mind is creative so is Language (as its reflection)
BTW, adults also invent their languages. It happens often that people from one company have their special words for some notions that others don't understand. (perhaps, I'm mistaking cause the majority of my friends are linguists :)
An interesting thing about creative people is also that there is a drive to be creative. It is a necessity, or a by product of existing. I write and my wife is an artist. At home magazines and books are filled with drawings and writings. Things that are not necessarily created with an end in mind, but as a by-product of our handling them. Its not something that can be turned off.
I am an art teacher and taught high school student with synaesthesia a few years ago. Because of her I began to casually learn more about this "phenomenon".
There are many artists and composers with this ability including the British artist, David Hockney. Knowing this has enabled me to consider creative work in a new light.
Post a Comment