Savant For A Day
Jun 21, 2003 outsideNewsShare/Save
This New York Times article describes the technique of transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS which can cause subjects to “suddenly exhibit savant intelligence — those isolated pockets of geniuslike mental ability that most often appear in autistic people.”
They have the author of the article draw a couple of cats before they pop the electrodes on his head, and the guy CAN’T draw. I mean, he’s better than I am, but that’s basically it. After 10 minutes of TMS, his drawings could be straight out of a New Yorker cartoon!!
Have you ever felt like you were capable of much more than actually comes out of you? Like your brain is swimming in a fog that’s covering your true inner brilliance? This seems like pretty good evidence to me that we all exist in this state. Some counterarguments are presented, but they seem more like skeptical dismissal than refutations of the actual evidence.
We all know that we don’t really understand the human brain at all, but this is some totally next-level shit. Would you test this out if you got the chance? What would you want to try to do while with the electrodes on your head? I’d love to be able to strap in when I’m musically blocked and just record while I play transcranial magnetically stimulated piano and then work with the resuts for the next month or so. (Or would I? It would probably be dangerous and addictive as hell.) Thoughts?
June 21st, 2003 at 2:53 pm
Increase Your Brain Power
The New York Times is reporting on a new method to increase brain power. Through a technique of transcranial magnetic stimulation, you can become a savant for a short period of time. It is an interesting and amazing concept. I think it is somewhat scar…
June 22nd, 2003 at 12:23 am
Wow. This sounds like awsome shit. How does it work? I’d try it in a second.
June 25th, 2003 at 12:30 am
Arthur, you should provide some links for more info, because I’m lazy, can TMS fix that? Nope, I chose to be. Seriously… I’d do it in a heartbeat. I already find psychonautic experiences have induced similar sensations, but they often do more damage than good. I would definitey get hooked on TMS. If I weren’t so lazy, I’d actually listen to the crap I ramble about and start meditating toward a more whole mind lifestyle. I suppose it’s my choice. What would I do on TMS?… Drugs.
June 25th, 2003 at 12:31 am
P.S., I meant a link that you don’t need to whore yourself out to the NY Times to see. LOL
June 29th, 2003 at 7:40 pm
http://www.google.com/search?q=transcranial%20magnetic%20stimulation
How’s that?