Oct 1, 2008

Thinking cap will unlock extraordinary skills

Too bad my third grade teacher isn’t able to read about this thinking cap that should be able to unlock extraordinary skills.

I got rather tired of hearing her say, “alright now children, it’s time to put on your thinking caps.” As a third grader, I realized I was a child but resented being talked “down to” and I further disliked her reference to “thinking caps.”

In my literal world, a thinking cap was in the same mythical realm as Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny.

The thinking caps she metaphorically spoke of couldn’t possibly have given us extraordinary skills, or anything else for that matter.

However, there is a report at the link below telling of a thinking cap being developed by scientists that can unlock ones hidden genius.

The device works by switching on and off certain sections of the brain and so unlocking its hidden potential.

The hairnet-like cap uses tiny magnetic pulses to change the way the brain works and has led to improved artistic ability, mathematical ability and proof-reading skills.

If the technique is perfected, the device could be marketed as a cap slipped on to boost creativity and intellectual capacity.

The technique is based on research into savants, like the Dustin Hoffman character in the film Rainman, who have extraordinary abilities as well as severe mental disability.

Link