If geniuses themselves are known to mankind, then we know almost nothing about the nature of genius. Is it an anomaly or is it a kind of norm? And who are these genius personalities: people with an unstable psyche and developed imagination or bright representatives of the future of humanity?
It is generally accepted that genius is, as it were, compensation for a “lack” in some other areas. In 1921, Stanford psychologist Lewis Termen began an experiment in which more than one and a half thousand children took part, born from 1900 to 1925 and selected on the basis of an IQ test developed by Termen himself based on the research of the Frenchman Alfred Binet. The goal of the experiment, which stretched out over decades, was to refute the widespread belief that geniuses are prone to disease and find it difficult to arrange their lives.
Indeed, when the children grew up, the researcher was able to make sure that, in general, the "termites" (as the test subjects affectionately called him) are just as healthy and happy as any other people.
However, later colleagues Theremin doubted the objectivity of his research. The fact is that, firstly, 90% of children were representatives of the Caucasian race, and their parents belonged to the upper and middle strata of society. (By the way, Theremin also included his own children in the experimental group.) Secondly, only those children were tested about their abilities, and their teachers spoke positively about their abilities. Third, thanks to Theremin's letters of recommendation, some of the "termites" were able to enter Stanford.
In short, initially all the participants were in equally favorable starting conditions, which means that they had much more chances to succeed in the intellectual field without experiencing any special problems.
However, Theremin's experiment piqued the interest of other scientists. So, in the 80s of the last century, George Weilant of Harvard Medical School decided to use Termen's data in his own long-term study. He collected information about the death of "termites", many of which were no longer alive by that time.
The data obtained by Weilant, in turn, was used by Howard Friedman of the University of California at Riverside. Friedman, having studied all the material at his disposal, came to the conclusion that Theremin still managed to prove some things. In particular, people who have been distinguished from childhood by such qualities as prudence, perseverance and prudence have better health and, on average, live 6-7 years longer than those who do not have such properties.
At the same time, these qualities are associated more with success in the professional field than with genius. Yes, a capable person who is reasonable, persistent and calculating in his activities can achieve a lot. However, as you know, most geniuses did not possess these properties at all, and discoveries came to them in the form of insights. The masterpieces created by geniuses were the product of non-trivial thinking rather than hard and calculating work.
Promotional video:
Can creativity be stimulated?
Meanwhile, experts from the University of Pennsylvania argue that it is possible to increase the efficiency of creative activity by stimulating the prefrontal cortex of the brain. According to scientists, it is this zone that is responsible for our cognitive activity and filters out extraneous thoughts that can interfere with the performance of current tasks.
By artificially slowing down the area of the brain being studied, scientists have found that this increases the performance of actions that require creative thinking.
During the experiment, the participants were shown pictures of various household items and asked to come up with unusual ways of using them as soon as possible. Let's say you can think of a baseball bat as a rolling pin … Every nine seconds, the subjects were shown one of 60 objects. At the same time, the time for which they came up with an answer was recorded.
Indeed, when the zones of cognitive control (associated with cognition, thinking) were stimulated by a constant weak electric current, the result was achieved faster and more efficiently. Scientists hypothesized that this stimulation changes the electrical potential of neuronal membranes.
Thus, the ability of neurons to generate signals in a given part of the brain is limited, which reduces its activity.
As the authors of the study believe, a high level of cognitive control helps us to focus on performing everyday tasks, "cutting off" what is irrelevant to us at the moment. Whereas, when solving problems of a creative plan, we may need these "insignificant" things.
Is genetic selection inevitable?
The well-known Russian scientist, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Sergei Savelyev is of the opinion that in the near future states wishing to develop steadily and successfully will have to carry out an artificial selection of individuals, which, due to their intellectual exceptionalism, will "pull" everyone else ahead of them. For this, with the help of supersensitive equipment, it will be necessary to carry out the procedure of the so-called cerebral sorting, starting from a very young age. The selection of potential geniuses can open up extraordinary prospects for humanity, because these people can become exactly the leaders that our civilization so lacks …
According to the forecasts of the scientific group of Dr. Oliver Kerry of the Darwin Research Center, in the future, people will inevitably split into groups according to their genetic characteristics. At the same time, individuals from the "higher caste" will be distinguished by enormous growth, excellent health, beauty, and excellent intelligence. They will interbreed with each other, improving the "breed" and developing, while people with ordinary genetic data will degenerate into … ugly dwarfs. It can be assumed that these groups will be at completely different social levels - with all the ensuing consequences.
How can we not recall the famous work of HG Wells "The Time Machine", in which people of the future were divided into beautiful Eloi and disgusting Morlocks?
Elo-elite of the Future
Do you think this is just a horror story? The Chinese government recently approved a new genetic engineering project developed by the BGI Shenzhen Science Center. Its essence is to bring out the "race" of babies with the makings of geniuses. To do this, the researchers took DNA samples belonging to two thousand of the smartest inhabitants of the planet, and tried to isolate the genes responsible for intelligence.
If the operation is successful, the parents-to-be will be able to order the implantation of "smart" embryos into the body using IVF. It is assumed that with each subsequent generation, the IQ level will increase by 5-15 points. Thus, in a few decades there will be several million geniuses in the Celestial Empire.
Promising mutations
Although it is possible that the general level of intelligence of civilization will increase even without the use of genetic technologies. Thus, a group of geneticists from the University of Chicago, led by Bruce Lahn, doctor of biology, came to the conclusion that the human brain is still evolving. This is due to mutations in a number of genes.
Alexander Merkovsky, an employee of the RAS Institute of Ecology, Doctor of Biology, believes that one of the factors that can lead to mutations is the development of computer databases and networks. A significant increase in the speed of receiving and exchanging information could not but affect our thinking organ …
But still, biotechnology cannot be discounted
Perhaps, discoveries in this area will lead to the most ambitious consequences - it will be possible to create various forms of living organisms based on modified DNA. On the one hand, we will be able to design ourselves, and, accordingly, our brain structure.
On the other hand, this kind of activity will change the processes of thinking and can make the cells of the gray matter mutate in a natural way. This will inevitably lead to the emergence of a new biological race, which Merkovsky conventionally calls Homo cyberus - "organized man", "man-designer".
So we can become geniuses as a result of both genetic interference and natural processes. However, there is no limit to perfection, and what today seems to us out of the ordinary, such as outstanding abilities, in the future may become the norm. And the bar of genius will rise even more …
Konstantin GASTEV, Ida SHAKHOVSKAYA