Post #2 Cuero and Creativity

In Patricia Gras' interview with microbiologist Raul Cuero, talks about how you have to be a "good absorbent of nature" and how people shouldn't always be focused on a screen (12:54). He also mentions that you must be committed and be very focused to maintain creativity. I'm pretty sure that I agree with Cuero's creative ideology. I have had plenty of moments in high school where my focus was shifted and I lost track of what I was supposed to do for an assignment in the subject. Since then, I have trained to keep my focus, as I know that the information given to me is important so that I can put it to use later in my life. Using this mindset can certainly help me identify details more easily, should I forget something; I can put the pieces together. Sometimes, I can even make a misinterpretation on how my mentors want my classmates and I to finish our work, which happens for many people in work and school alike. In short, listening to what people have to say about how I do things and keeping a close eye on my objectives are surefire ways to enhance my creativity.

Some people are more creative than others because of their ability to find more than just one use for common objects. Scientists have researched that people who are more creative usually have their brains “wired” differently, in ways that make it so that brain systems that would not normally work together do so. Normally, if the executive network would be activated when a person thinks, the default would be deactivated. Some of these people who have such wiring have also been found to have more creative hobbies and activities to spend their time with. These people can brainstorm harder and find various ways to creatively solve problems. In an experiment, the scientists have discovered that the human brain uses three “creative networks”: the default network, the executive control network, and the salience network. Each of these three “networks” serve different purposes in the creative mind of a person. The default network is used when people are involved in spontaneous thinking; daydreaming. Executive control networks are in effect when people need to focus their thoughts. The salience network is essentially the switch between default and executive networks in the human brain. The 163 subjects used in the aforementioned experiment were graded on their originality, and had the functional connectivity of every wired in their brain measured in fMRIs. Common ideas received lower scores, and more diverse ideas earned more points. Later on, the scientists would learn that they can measure creativity scores based on the strength of an individual’s connections to their network.

DISCUSSION (9/10/21):

Because Cuero accepted and absorbed all of the criticism he received, he was able to utilize that feedback in a positive way and learn how to do things in life. Some people agree with his mindset that the school system is lacking in teaching creativity because of how their own minds operate. Others disagree because they believe that everyone has the creative potential to do whatever they wish; it is simply latent potential that people tend to downplay.