CNBC
Neuroscientist: The No. 1 trait of highly intelligent people, including Bill Gates and Leonardo da Vinci—it’s not your IQ.
Story by Joseph Jebelli, Contributor
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Guided by my research as a neuroscientist and driven by my family’s toxic relationship with work, I started to explore the neuroscience of alone time and rest — and what I discovered was extraordinary.
Cognitively speaking, solitude can boost creativity by offering the necessary space for ideas to flourish. Whether it’s writing, playing the piano, painting, gardening, praying, or meditating, being alone is often what the brain needs to perform these activities well.
In these moments of isolation, the default network is busy forging new synaptic connections, strengthening our skills and ability to absorb new information, and nurturing our creativity more effectively.
I know…That’s why most people these days can’t think for themselves, they fill their time, and heads, with media stuff, computer games, movies and music…They end up with a very short attention span and can not read a whole book, preferring to read short items and writing just a few sentences…
Time alone, means ‘no input’ or distractions from the stuff that’s already in there, and it will produce creative thinking…
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Looks interesting … I’ll have a look when I’ve got more time later today.
Rather interestingly, I think I read somewhere that a great many successful people could be classified as sociopaths.
The obvious bad boys like Hitler … but also Donald Trump and Elon Musk and Besoz.
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The Amazing Bill Gates.
Must be Seething.
By the way His Philanthropy. Has been Abused by Successors.
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“There is a fine line between genius and insanity.” This phrase suggests that the traits associated with genius can often overlap with those of madness. Oscar Levant famously stated, “I have erased this line,” indicating that the distinction can be subjective. Historically, thinkers like Aristotle have noted that “there is no great genius without a touch of madness,” emphasizing the complex relationship between creativity and mental health. This concept invites reflection on how society perceives and values unconventional thinking.
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That makes sense. Writers say that they often travelled to a secluded spot when they needed time for undisturbed reflection and for getting something finished. This can be intensified by physical activities. Alan Turing also had his best brainwaves while jogging and being completely on his own. On a different scale, I also went jogging when I needed to find a solution and often found it.
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Semi physical activity (running / jogging / hiking/ workouts) are some of the most effective means of easing tension / clearing one’s mind.
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You don’t have to be a genius to realize time for your thoughts to sort through the day’s happenings is essential to a quiet mind before bedtime.
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This is absolutely true, but not always possible, for some. Some of us require “winding down”, which may / will (me for 1) require the expenditure of nervous energy. I have never been able to relax with “something” on my mind ( I have a stationary bike in my living room), I have for most of my life" been an “adrenalin” junkie, and have gone without sleep for very long periods. Until I lost my hearing you could not even approach me when I was sleep, and even today, one should never touch me when I’m sleep, and I do not like anyone behind me.
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