WorldCat Linked Data Explorer

Turtle N-Triple JSON-LD RDF/XML HTML Contact Us Home

http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/766271356

What makes a genius?

Open All Close All

type

about

contributor

description

http://schema.org/description

  • "Can modern genetics, psychology, and neuroscience actually identify the qualities that make up human creativity and brilliance? This program follows innovative research which may help determine what makes a person a genius-- if such a label even makes sense. Dr. Manuel Casanova of the University of Louisville has detected differences in brain structure that may account for extreme intelligence. Dr. Justin Halberda of Johns Hopkins University administers a color-coded computer test that measures latent mathematical ability in children. And Dr. Elly Nedivi of MIT has, through studying Pavlovian responses in mice, found a gene associated with learning. Artists and savants are also featured."
  • "Marcus du Sautoy attempts to understand what it is that makes someone a genius. He meets mathematician Arthur Benjamin who can calculate vast mathematical problems in his head. However, Benjamin feels he has a skill rather than the creative quality which he believes is the true definition of genius. De Sautoy looks back over the history of brain dissection, used to ascertain intelligence; we see a brain dissection and Manuel Casanova shows differences in brain structure in people with so-called super brains. The link between intelligence and genetics is discussed and experimental studies with genetically modified mice referred to. Brain activity in chess grand masters has been analysed in depth by Ognjen Amidzic, who himself spent 20 years training to be a grand master but never made it. He now believes that we are born hard-wired to succeed in certain types of learning. Annette Karmiloff-Smith discusses her work with babies - she believes that we are born with malleable brains. The phenomenon of autistic savantism is also discussed, and we see autistic pianist Derek perform. Walter Paulus shows his research to alter neuronal networks within the brain and prolific artist, Tommy McHugh describes his surge of creativity following a brain haemorrhage; Mark Lythgoe from University College discusses his research into McHugh's condition."
  • "Could you have come up with Einstein's theory of relativity? If not - why not? This is what Marcus du Sautoy, professor of mathematics, wants to explore. Marcus readily admits that he is no genius, but wants to know if geniuses are just an extreme version of himself - or whether their brains are fundamentally different. In the program, Marcus meets some remarkable individuals - Tommy, an obsessive artist who uses his whole house as his canvas; Derek: blind, autistic, and a pianist with apparently prodigious gifts; Claire who is also blind, but whose brain has learnt to see using sound. Marcus is shown how babies have remarkable abilities which most of us lose as teenagers. He meets a neuroscientist who claims he has evidence of innate ability, a scientist who's identified a gene for learning, and Dr. Paulus, who has discovered how to sharpen the brain ... by electrically turbo-charging it."

genre

http://schema.org/genre

  • "Documentary television programs"
  • "DVDs"
  • "Educational television programs"

name

http://schema.org/name

  • "What makes a genius?"

workExample