Maybe Someday...

[harryupbabble]

... when you are young you can get a brain scan and you will know exactly whether you have a lyrical mind or a musical mind. Or both. Or whatever.

I promised myself I would spend less time creating threads and focus more on songwriting and scrabble- study, maybe someday brain scan science will tell me whether such promises is doable by my brain type.

Anyways, I was just imagining: even though brain scan may not be super-accurate now and is expensive, wouldn't it be nice if someday it's as cheap or cheaper as a yearly physical exam at the doctor's?

That way, if you know what you are built for early on in life, you could utilize yourself better, instead of wasting time on stuff that you may not be suited for. Wouldn't society be happier and more productive if brain scan science could tell everybody exactly what their potential is?

Okay this only took about 10 minutes so that's not too bad. I did spend less time, compared to before and so maybe promise is being kept.

[RichieWitch]

All that self-doubt, uncertainty, and regret.... yep, you're a musician.

[Googly Smythe]

"Brave New World"

[Googly Smythe]

And if the scan showed that you were ideally suited for cleaning toilets in Chernobyl - you'd settle for that?
Give me freedom!
Or give me cocoa and me slippers.

[Aloysius]

If you want to make music you have to push yourself sometimes. I think there's a saying ... 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration.

Do you know of Jaco the famous bass player? He spend 10 years perfecting his playing of just one tune and they called him a genius.

My 2c.

[harryupbabble]

And if the scan showed that you were ideally suited for cleaning toilets in Chernobyl - you'd settle for that?
Give me freedom!
Or give me cocoa and me slippers.

Probably not always because my guess is that such a brain scan result would not just conclude you are suited for just that one thing... cleaning toilets.
That could be just one of the items in a long list of jobs you could do for your given limitations. And you could select the job that makes you happy. If cleaning toilets makes someone happy then why not?

And if the brain scan concludes that you have, for example, a mathematical mind, then there must at least 100 things that a mathematical mind could choose to do as a job. Didn't Leonardo Da Vinci's "talents" fit the "Mathematical Mind" brain type?

So, if a brain scan can conclude "here is a list of preoccupations you are suited for" one can then pick the one (or more) one thinks would make one happiest, and concentrate one's effort on that (the perspiration part would be easier if the inspiration or brain scan results is saying you can do it, really do it). If the brain scan says you could be great at playing bass then work on that if it makes you happy. But if the results says "nope you are not meant to be a bass player" but you still enjoy playing bass... would that be enough? And if the brain scan result concludes "yes you are meant to play bass", isn't that better than not knowing? One might try harder and try for "excellent bass player" instead of just doing it for fun. Reach full potential.

But on the other hand, maybe Paco the bass player didn't need a brain scan to know that he is born to play the bass, maybe he just knew. But maybe he is one of those freaks too. Two minds in one brain. And Paco didn't know it? It would be interesting to know that if they did do a brain scan on Paco's brain and it turns out he has the brain of one who can also find the cure to cancer but he ONLY preoccupied himself playing the bass, might Paco then be regretful?

I think people could end up trusting the results of such scans because after all, most people do trust yearly physical exam at the doctor's? Okay maybe not all. Didn't Frank Zappa died because he ignored his doctor's advice? Sure, science could be abused, brain scan results could be falsified but so can cancer test results, etc, but generally, I believe, there is more good will than bad will? Professionals (doctors, scientists, lawmakers, law enforcers, tech people, etc.) make mistakes, be incompetent, be inept, but they generally are not malicious? Not everyone is greedy and turn malicious? I don't know about Dr. Phil though (kidding). Plus, maybe brain scan science will weed out the professionals that are incompetent and suggests better preoccupations for them. Again, it seems better for everybody for society to be happy. It's like when someone is happy at the "what made you happy today" thread, it's contagious. And vicarious?

These are just my opinions and conclusions of course and I realise I could be wrong but I'm open to be corrected, be educated. Properly, preferably. So, educate away.

Anyways, here is an article that seems to say that even now, brain scan science is already detecting all sorts of stuff. Maybe someday will come anytime now? Here's two quotes from the article:

"Participants' brain scans revealed that artists had increased neural matter in areas relating to fine motor movements and visual imagery."

"The research, published in NeuroImage, suggests that an artist's talent could be innate."

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26925271

[BertKoor]

Why need a scan if you have this?

[harryupbabble]

Why need a scan if you have this?

Because you, the answerer, could be answering falsely without knowing it? One can overestimate/underestimate one's abilities?

Plus brain scans can be done at early age.

[Hink]

If you want to make music you have to push yourself sometimes. I think there's a saying ... 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration.

Do you know of Jaco the famous bass player? He spend 10 years perfecting his playing of just one tune and they called him a genius.

My 2c.

sadly Jaco Pastorius also suffered from bi-polar disorder (manic depressive) which may have had an impact as well. Indeed he was a genius and there does seem to be a common link with many such artists and geniuses imo and similar mental illnesses. Though tbh I have no evidence to support that the numbers are higher than among other groups as it could be something I notice more due to my passion for music as it were.

[harryupbabble]

Career assessment tests are usually taken way too late? You could have spent your whole school years already pursuing and studying the wrong stuff. And even if it can be done at an early age, those career assessment questions wouldn't be the right questions yet? It's designed for adults?

[Hink]

And if the scan showed that you were ideally suited for cleaning toilets in Chernobyl - you'd settle for that?
Give me freedom!
Or give me cocoa and me slippers.

Probably not always because my guess is that such a brain scan result would not just conclude you are suited for just that one thing... cleaning toilets.
That could be just one of the items in a long list of jobs you could do for your given limitations. And you could select the job that makes you happy. If cleaning toilets makes someone happy then why not?

And if the brain scan concludes that you have, for example, a mathematical mind, then there must at least 100 things that a mathematical mind could choose to do as a job. Didn't Leonardo Da Vinci's "talents" fit the "Mathematical Mind" brain type?

So, if a brain scan can conclude "here is a list of preoccupations you are suited for" one can then pick the one (or more) one thinks would make one happiest, and concentrate one's effort on that (the perspiration part would be easier if the inspiration or brain scan results is saying you can do it, really do it). If the brain scan says you could be great at playing bass then work on that if it makes you happy. But if the results says "nope you are not meant to be a bass player" but you still enjoy playing bass... would that be enough? And if the brain scan result concludes "yes you are meant to play bass", isn't that better than not knowing? One might try harder and try for "excellent bass player" instead of just doing it for fun. Reach full potential.

But on the other hand, maybe Paco the bass player didn't need a brain scan to know that he is born to play the bass, maybe he just knew. But maybe he is one of those freaks too. Two minds in one brain. And Paco didn't know it? It would be interesting to know that if they did do a brain scan on Paco's brain and it turns out he has the brain of one who can also find the cure to cancer but he ONLY preoccupied himself playing the bass, might Paco then be regretful?

I think people could end up trusting the results of such scans because after all, most people do trust yearly physical exam at the doctor's? Okay maybe not all. Didn't Frank Zappa died because he ignored his doctor's advice? Sure, science could be abused, brain scan results could be falsified but so can cancer test results, etc, but generally, I believe, there is more good will than bad will? Professionals (doctors, scientists, lawmakers, law enforcers, tech people, etc.) make mistakes, be incompetent, be inept, but they generally are not malicious? Not everyone is greedy and turn malicious? I don't know about Dr. Phil though (kidding). Plus, maybe brain scan science will weed out the professionals that are incompetent and suggests better preoccupations for them. Again, it seems better for everybody for society to be happy. It's like when someone is happy at the "what made you happy today" thread, it's contagious. And vicarious?

These are just my opinions and conclusions of course and I realise I could be wrong but I'm open to be corrected, be educated. Properly, preferably. So, educate away.

Anyways, here is an article that seems to say that even now, brain scan science is already detecting all sorts of stuff. Maybe someday will come anytime now? Here's two quotes from the article:

"Participants' brain scans revealed that artists had increased neural matter in areas relating to fine motor movements and visual imagery."

"The research, published in NeuroImage, suggests that an artist's talent could be innate."

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26925271

from all I have read when Zappa was diagnosed with prostate cancer it was already terminal.

As for a brain scan for aptitude I think one must look at from another angle as well. First while the numbers are not clear it is true many people change careers a few times in their life. It's not just aptitude, but also experience and passion that comes in to play. Said results could also be quite damaging imo and not a line we should cross...of course that's just my opinion.

[fmr]

As for a brain scan for aptitude I think one must look at from another angle as well. First while the numbers are not clear it is true many people change careers a few times in their life. It's not just aptitude, but also experience and passion that comes in to play. Said results could also be quite damaging imo and not a line we should cross...of course that's just my opinion.

IMO, all this is just bollocks. Bach said (it's a famous quote, and at least I got it as from Bach) that music is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. The same can be said, IMO, of ANYTHING man can achieve. Sure, we can born with some inate aptitudes, but those are like raw diamonds - if you don't work them, polish them and cut them properly, they are just like rocks, like any other rock.

So, do whatever brain scan you could do - in the end, you will probably get a map with a hundred or more possible activities where you could "potentially" succeed - but you will have to work anyway... Bad luck, isn't it?

Mozarts are like one or two per century in the whole world. And then there are the other geniuses, those that work like any other mortal, but go much far than the majority, and reach more. But they had a lot of work behind.

[Aloysius]

You could become a brain surgeon.

[Hink]

As for a brain scan for aptitude I think one must look at from another angle as well. First while the numbers are not clear it is true many people change careers a few times in their life. It's not just aptitude, but also experience and passion that comes in to play. Said results could also be quite damaging imo and not a line we should cross...of course that's just my opinion.

IMO, all this is just bollocks. Bach said (it's a famous quote, and at least I got it as from Bach) that music is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. The same can be said, IMO, of ANYTHING man can achieve. Sure, we can born with some inate aptitudes, but those are like raw diamonds - if you don't work them, polish them and cut them properly, they are just like rocks, like any other rock.

So, do whatever brain scan you could do - in the end, you will probably get a map with a hundred or more possible activities where you could "potentially" succeed - but you will have to work anyway... Bad luck, isn't it?

Mozarts are like one or two per century in the whole world. And then there are the other geniuses, those that work like any other mortal, but go much far than the majority, and reach more. But they had a lot of work behind.

I'm not sure if you are agreeing with me or disagreeing with me Fernando or if perhaps my post was unclear but ftr what you are saying is what I meant to say pretty much and I agree with you...I think a brain scan to give you an idea for what to do is not something I would do. My only other point would be it could discourage others willing to put in said work to achieve their goals, dreams or what have you.

[fmr]

I was more or less agreeing with you and reinforcing the idea The "bollocks" was addressed to the idea in the OP.