Insight thru suppression of 'knowledge' hemisphere of brain

[Jarvamundo]

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-te ... 1asg4.html

Scientists in Australia say they are encouraged by initial results of a revolutionary "thinking cap" that aims to promote creativity by passing low levels of electricity through the brain.

The device, which consists of two conductors fastened to the head by a rubber strap, boosted results significantly in a simple arithmetic test, they said.

Three times as many people who wore the "thinking cap" were able to complete the test, compared with those who did not use the equipment. Sixty people took part.

Allan Snyder, director of the University of Sydney's Centre for the Mind, said the device worked by suppressing the left side of the brain, associated with knowledge, and stimulating the right side, linked to creativity.

"You wouldn't use this to study or to help your memory," Professor Snyder said. "You would use this if you wanted to look at a problem anew.

"If you wanted to look at the world, just briefly, with a child's view, if you wanted to look outside the box."

He said the goal was to suppress mental templates gathered through life experiences to help users see problems and situations as they really appear, rather than through the prism of earlier knowledge.

wow.... insert <indoctrination> here...

....and so it seems to look outside the box, it'll involve electricity....

go figure

Professor Snyder said the device had been in use by scientists for a decade, but this was the first study into how current passing through the brain could amplify insight.

"The dream is that one day we may be able to [electrically] stimulate the brain in a particular way to give you, just momentarily, an unfiltered view of the world," Professor Snyder said.

[mine]

One could argue it's already happening here at TB?

[fosborn]

I wonder if they compared the test with the placebo effect?

[GaryN]

[Levatio]

Ever heard of Reiki?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiki

A Reiki master is able to set your mind back open, eg to let you think out of the box. To quote my uncle, as a child you are open to everything. However, while developping, you are thaught to think in a certain way. Because of that, your mind gets closed more and more. It seems that a Reiki master is able to get your mind back open. Not for a brief moment, but for the rest of the time you want. As long you set yourself open aswell.

Levatio.