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" vspace=0 border=0 width="300" height="180" src="/olmedia/1930000/images/_1932709_brain300.jpg"> <DIV CLASS="caption"><SMALL>The human mind has long fascinated psychologists</SMALL><BR></DIV> </DIV>  <DIV CLASS="bodytext"> <table border="0" width="315" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <TR> <TD><img width="310" height="2" src="/furniture/nothing.gif" border="0" alt="test hello"></img></TD> <TD><img width="5" height="2" src="/furniture/nothing.gif" border="0" alt="test"></img></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD valign="top"> </TD> <TD rowspan="2" valign="bottom"></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD valign="bottom"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, Ariel, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-weight:600; color:#666633; "> Helen Briggs </span> <BR> <span style="font-family:Verdana, Ariel, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:11px; font-weight:400; color:#000000; "> BBC News Online </span> </TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2"><IMG vspace=0 height=1 hspace=0 border=0 alt=line width=315 src="/furniture/grey_pixel.gif"></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2"><IMG src="/furniture/nothing.gif" height="7" width="315" alt="" border="0"></TD></TR> </table> Australian scientists say they have created a "thinking cap" that will stimulate creative powers. <P> The invention raises the possibility of being able to unlock one's inner genius by reawakening dormant parts of the brain. <P>  </FONT><TABLE ALIGN="RIGHT" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" WIDTH="150" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="3">  <TR><TD><IMG SRC="/furniture/startquote.gif" WIDTH=23 HEIGHT=18 BORDER=0 VALIGN="TOP" ALT=""><BR><DIV CLASS="boxbody"> This shock finding will challenge many of our conventional views regarding creativity </DIV><IMG ALIGN="RIGHT" SRC="/furniture/endquote.gif" WIDTH=23 HEIGHT=18 BORDER=0 VALIGN="ABSBOTTOM" ALT=""><BR CLEAR=ALL></TD></TR>  <TR><TD BGCOLOR="CCCC99"><DIV CLASS="boxhead"> Steve Williams, Institute of Psychiatry </DIV></TD></TR></TABLE><FONT FACE="sans-serif" SIZE="2"> It is based on the idea that we all have the sorts of extraordinary abilities usually associated with savants. <P> According to scientists at the Centre for the Mind in Sydney, these hidden talents can be stimulated using magnetism. <P> Professor Allan Snyder and colleague Elaine Mulcahy say tests on 17 volunteers show their device can improve drawing skills within 15 minutes. <P> They intend to submit their work for publication in a scientific journal. <P> The news, reported in Chemistry and Industry magazine, has been given a cautious welcome by experts in the UK. <P> <B>'Unconscious skills'</B> <P> Professor Steve Williams, of the Institute of Psychiatry in London, said Professor Snyder was a highly respected international scientist and he was looking forward to reading the scientific paper. <P> </FONT><TABLE CELLSPACING="3" ALIGN="RIGHT" WIDTH="154" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="3"><TR><TD><FONT FACE="sans-serif" SIZE="2"> <DIV CLASS="inlineimage"> <IMG alt="Stephen Wiltshire, who is autistic, draws astonishing cityscapes (BBC) " vspace="0" border=0 width="150" height="180" src="/olmedia/1930000/images/_1932709_brain150.jpg"> <DIV CLASS="caption"><SMALL>Many autistics are accomplished artists</SMALL><BR></DIV> </DIV> </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE><FONT FACE="sans-serif" SIZE="2"> He told BBC News Online: "This shock finding that everyone might possess unconscious skills that can be 'switched on' with magnetic stimulation will challenge many of our conventional views regarding creativity." <P> The inspiration for the device comes from savant syndrome, a condition portrayed in the Hollywood film Rain Man. <P> Savants are extraordinarily gifted. They may have amazing memories or excel at maths, music or art. But they also have developmental disorders such as autism. <P> <B>Mind state</B> <P> One theory behind savant syndrome is that the right side of the brain overcompensates for damage to the left hemisphere. <P> The skills most often seen in savants are those associated with the right side. <P> </FONT><TABLE ALIGN="RIGHT" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" WIDTH="150" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="3">  <TR> <TD BGCOLOR="#CCCC99"> <DIV CLASS="boxhead"> <B> Savant syndrome </B></DIV></TD></TR><TR><TD> <DIV CLASS="boxbody">  <DIV CLASS="itemsm"> Rare condition in which persons with various developmental disorders have astonishing abilities or talents </DIV>  <DIV CLASS="itemsm"> Savants also have a prodigious memory </DIV>  <DIV CLASS="itemsm"> Typical savant skills include music, art, and mathematical skills </DIV>  <DIV CLASS="itemsm"> About 10% of persons with autistic disorder have some savant skills </DIV> </DIV></TD></TR></TABLE><FONT FACE="sans-serif" SIZE="2"> According to Professor Snyder, it might be possible to train someone to access this state by controlling their brain waves. <P> David Potter of the National Autistic Society, a UK charity, said the research was fascinating. <P> "Some scientists believe that the essence of creativity is not a state of mind but an activity," he told BBC News Online. <P> "Whether Snyder and Mulcahy's research will enable the expression of savant skills without accompanying impairments remains to be seen." <P> </DIV> </FONT> </TD> <TD><IMG SRC="/furniture/nothing.gif" WIDTH=10 HEIGHT=1 ALT=""></TD> <TD VALIGN=TOP> <FONT FACE="sans-serif" SIZE="2"> <DIV CLASS="puffbox"></DIV> <DIV CLASS="rhslist"><DIV CLASS="rhshead"><B>See also:</B><BR><IMG SRC="/furniture/grey_pixel.gif" WIDTH=170 VSPACE="2" HEIGHT=1 ALT=""><BR></DIV> <DIV CLASS="aitem"><SPAN CLASS="seealsodate">07 Oct 99 | Health</SPAN><BR> <A HREF="/hi/english/health/newsid_467000/467029.stm" CLASS="heavy">Tuning in to genius</A> </DIV> <DIV CLASS="aitem"><SPAN CLASS="seealsodate">10 Mar 01 | Health</SPAN><BR> <A HREF="/hi/english/health/newsid_1211000/1211299.stm" CLASS="heavy">Unlocking the brain's potential</A> </DIV> </DIV> <DIV CLASS="rhslist"> <DIV CLASS="rhshead"><B>Internet links:</B><BR><IMG SRC="/furniture/grey_pixel.gif" WIDTH=170 VSPACE="2" HEIGHT=1 ALT=""><BR></DIV> <DIV CLASS="aitem"><A href="http://www.centreforthemind.com/whoweare/index.htm" CLASS="heavy">Centre for the mind</A></DIV><DIV CLASS="aitem"><A href="http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/IoP/home.stm" CLASS="heavy">Institute of Psychiatry</A></DIV><DIV CLASS="aitem"><A href="http://www.nas.org.uk/" CLASS="heavy">National Autistic Society (UK)</A></DIV><DIV CLASS="aitem"><A href="http://www.chemind.org/CI/index.jsp" CLASS="heavy">Chemistry and Industry magazine</A></DIV> <SPAN CLASS="disclaimer"><BR>The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites</SPAN><BR> </DIV> <DIV CLASS="rhslist"> <DIV CLASS="rhshead"><B>Top Sci/Tech stories now:</B><BR><IMG 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