Dr. Rex Jung, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, and Clinical Neuropsychologist discusses the neuroscience of intelligence, neuroplasticity, and creativity. Topics include limitations of IQ tests, genetics of intelligence, the default network of mental simulation, and the fascinating procedure of awake cranialities.
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Quick takeaways
Intelligence, creativity, and societal recognition are intertwined for an individual to be considered a genius.
The default mode network is associated with creativity and plays a role in internal representations, mental time travel, and mental simulations.
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Summary of the Podcast Episode
In this podcast episode, Dr. Rex Young, an expert in neurosurgery and neuropsychology, discusses his research on intelligence, creativity, and awake craniotomies. He explains the importance of the interplay between high levels of intelligence, creativity, and societal recognition for an individual to be considered a genius. Dr. Young also explores the role of different brain regions, such as the default mode network and the parietal lobes, in intelligence and creativity. He delves into the fascinating process of awake craniotomies, where patients undergo neuropsychological testing while their tumors are being removed. Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into the complexity of human cognition and the intricate workings of the brain.
Intelligence and creativity as essential survival tools
Dr. Rex Young highlights intelligence and creativity as fundamental human attributes that have evolved to be important survival tools. He emphasizes the interplay between these cognitive abilities and societal recognition, particularly in the context of genius. Dr. Young also acknowledges the controversy surrounding intelligence research and encourages a dispassionate and nuanced understanding of individual differences. With a focus on the architecture and organization of the brain, he appreciates the beauty of its design in enabling us to solve problems, imagine possibilities, and adapt to environmental demands.
The neuroscience of creativity and the default mode network
Exploring the neuroscience of creativity, Dr. Rex Young discusses the interplay between different brain regions and cognitive processes. He notes that creativity is associated with the default mode network, which plays a role in internal representations, mental time travel, and mental simulations. While acknowledging the social biases associated with intelligence research, Dr. Young highlights the societal acceptance of exploring genetic contributions to creativity. He also mentions ongoing research on musical ability and non-dominant language ability during awake craniotomies, shedding light on the neural basis of creative capacities in different individuals.
Awake craniotomies and the examination of individual differences
Dr. Rex Young explains the intriguing process of awake craniotomies, where patients undergo brain surgery while being awake and undergoing neuropsychological testing. He highlights the importance of preserving essential brain functions, such as language and motor skills, during tumor removal. Awake craniotomies provide valuable insights into the specific brain areas involved in various cognitive functions. Dr. Young emphasizes the necessity of understanding individual brain organization and the potential for neuroplasticity in recovering and compensating for damaged functions. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between brain structure and cognitive capabilities.
Today it’s great to have Dr. Rex Jung on the podcast. Dr. Jung is an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of New Mexico, and a clinical neuropsychologist in private practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A graduate of the University of New Mexico, he has practiced neuropsychology in Albuquerque since 2002. His clinical work now centers around intraoperative testing of patients undergoing awake craniotomy to remove tumors within eloquent brain tissue – work with particular relevance to the study of individual differences. He has contributed to over 100 research articles across a wide range of disciplines, involving both clinical and normal populations, designed to assess brain-behavior relationships. He is the Editor of the Cambridge Handbook of the Neuroscience of Creativity. His work has been featured on CNN, BBC, NOVA, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and National Geographic.
In this episode we discuss:
Rex’s earlier work on the neuroscience of intelligence
The distributed brain model of intelligence
Rex’s investigation of Scott’s brain
How the brain can compensate for disability
How our intelligence can change over time
Limitations of IQ tests for measuring intellectual potential
The limits of neuroplasticity
The genetics of intelligence
The creative brain
How the neuroscience of creativity is sometimes the inverse of the neuroscience of intelligence
The “default network” of mental simulation
The human capacity to “simulate or try out ideas before you buy them”
The beautiful architecture of the brain
The neuroscience of genius
Rex’s work on awake craniometries (neurological testing while a patient is awake and a tumor is being removed)