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I suspect that there is quite a large variation between people, but it has not really been studied because it is almost impossible to get funding to study diffe
by danieltillett 8y ago
I suspect that there is quite a large variation between people, but it has not really been studied because it is almost impossible to get funding to study differences that don't cause a problem to an individual. It is a shame because I find this topic fascinating.
I have a pet theory that more visual thinking is something that has come in from our Neanderthal ancestors. We know they had a brain more specialised around visual processing, but very little beyond this. It is almost certain that some people today think in a similar way to Neanderthals given how much of the Neanderthal genome is still present in the human population, but who they are and what they think like is unknown.
- LoSboccacc 8y agoI wonder instead if it comes from early development, like having a preponderance of picture vs written books as a toddler and at what point of development getting read stories has an influence if any
- danieltillett 8y agoIt is possible, but I suspect that any difference is formed earlier than this. I know I thought the way I think long before I learned to read. I remember very clearly learning about the concept of the written word. Once it clicked suddenly I noticed the whole world was filled with words (not that I knew what most of them meant). The world was now very different to how I saw it before and I became fascinated with knowing what they all were (I used to drive my mother crazy asking her what every sign said). I am also not sure if this is also related, but I was apparently quite a late talker (around 24 months), but once I started talking I was far ahead of other children of my age.
- WalterSear 8y agoIt comes from practice. You can learn it today - start reading books using an RSVP reader and slowly dial up the speed until you can follow the story without saying the words in your head.
- haZard_OS 8y ago>I have a pet theory that more visual thinking is something that has come in from our Neanderthal ancestors. That is an interesting proposal. One thing I like about it is its easy testibility. Given how easy it is to find people without Neanderthal DNA, the effort needed to conduct a study on this question would be minimal.
- danieltillett 8y agoYes it is very testable, but probably too controversial to be studied in practice.
- mirimir 8y agoThat's understandable, given how racial differences have so frequently been exaggerated and misused. Especially mental differences. Partly because they're so hard to measure objectively, being so tied with life experience. And still, being part Neanderthal, I am curious.
- danieltillett 8y agoYes it is a shame we can’t study this topic as it is such a interesting area. It would be nice if people understood different doesn’t mean inferior. The thing many people forget about those of us that are Neanderthal hybrids is that all us hybrids carry different parts of the Neanderthal genome. Pinning down what genes are linked to what phenotypes would be very, very interesting.
- mirimir 8y agoBack in the day, I loved The Clan of the Cave Bear and sequels by Jean M. Auel. As I recall, she characterized Neanderthals as having better memories, and more dependent on stored procedures. But I have no clue whether there was any basis for that.
- danieltillett 8y agoNeanderthal were certainly no less intelligent than their East African cousins, but they were different.