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SECTION B INTERVIEW
M: People often wonder how the human brain creates, for example, a beautiful painting, a sculpture or even a delicious dinner. Today we are honoured to have Dr. Nancy Andreasen, a neuroscientist at the University of Iowa on our talk show. Dr. Andreasen has recently written a book called The Creating Brain: The Neuroscience of Genius. In her book, she tackles the questionand tries to look into the brain behind creativity.
M: Dr. Andreasen, thanks for coming on our show.
W: Pleasure.
M: Now, Dr. Andreasen can we start with the question “What is creativity?”
W: Well, creativity can be saying as a process. This process starts with a person, for example an artist, musician, inventor or even someone who's trying to figure out a better way of doing a task at work or at home. [1]That person must think about the problem or, or their project in a novel way and then come up with a solution.
M: Hmm, I see. But how long will it take for the person to find a solution as it were?
W: Well, it depends. [12]The creative process can go by in a flash or it can take years. But the end result is invariably the production of something new and useful, such as the automobile, or something beautiful and artistic, such as a painting by Vincent van Gogh.
M: Hmm, Dr. Andreasen, then do you think the ability to be creative is inborn or not?W: Well, no one knows yet if the ability to be creative, for example the ability to produce a haunting symphony is the result of the environment or a genetic makeup that allows people to be creative more easily. [2]However, creativity does seem to run in certain families.
M: Is that so?
W: Yes. You see, [2] Johann Sebastian Bach was the most famous member of the Bach family, but there were 20 other eminent musicians who came from the same family.
M: That's very interesting. Now Dr. Andreasen,we've so far been talking about those famous creative people like van Gogh or Bach who have produced great pieces of work. Does that mean that creativity only resides in great people?
W: No, certainly not. Creativity is not limited, I mean, to the masterpiece work of art
but can also be found in everyday tasks such as cooking or gardening.
M: Oh, really?
W: For example, a cook changes a recipe or even makes one up using ingredients he or she has on hand to produce a new one. He is in fact using the creative process to create novel taste sensations.
M: So can we say both famous and ordinary people can be creative?
W: Yes.
M: Now Dr. Andreasen, can you describe to us what the actual creative process is?
W: OK. Uh, [3] artists, musicians and writers often describe periods during which they're relying on ordinary creativity. For example, you know writers can spend hours at the keyboard putting thoughts together – this process is similar to the way people put together novel ideas when talking. And and many great artists also describe a dream-like state during which a symphony, a poem or the idea for the ending of a play comes to them in a flash.
M: So what's going on in the brain during a flash of inspiration?
W: Well, for the moment no one knows for sure, but but researchers suggest that creative people often slip into a zone in which ideas, uh, and thoughts come up freely in a sort of disorganized way. During that state a part of the brain becomes very active. And that brain region is known to be able to link up ideas or or thoughts in potentially novel ways.
M: I see. Another question, do you think there is a creative personality?
W: Well, perhaps we can put it this way. Gifted people in the arts or science tend to enjoy adventure. They often like to explore new places or ideas. Uh, [4] they don't like being hemmed in by rules or convention and,and they often look at problems from a different angle. Another point is,is they often have to move doggedly ahead on a project -- even when the outside world rejects their art or new ideas.
M: Dr. Andreasen, what about the role of the environment in the creative process?
W: Environment does play a role. You see there have been hotbeds of creativity throughout history. For example, the city of Florence during the Renaissance period was home to both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Both men in fact came from families that didn't especially value creativity,yet someone noticed a spark of talent in them and both got the training and financial backing to produce extraordinary pieces of art.
M: Uh,[5] since the environment helps in the creative process, are there ways for people to build a better, more creative brain?
W: Well, [5] I suggest that you spend 30 minutes a day on a creativity workout.
M: Oh, could you say a bit more about that?
W: Yes, you do three things. First, explore an unfamiliar area of knowledge. For example, people who use a lot of math on the job should sign up for a painting class.
M: And the second?
W: The second is, spend time each day thinking. This means that you don't censor your thoughts, but allow your mind to go freely to a problem and see what kind of solutions or ideas come up.
M: Next thing?
W: That is, practice the art of paying attention. Look for and really observe a person,an object or something in your daily commute that you hadn't noticed before. Try describing or drawing that object in a journal or sketchbook.
M: I hope that your advice will help people to train their brain to be creative. OK, thank you very much Dr. Andreasen for talking on the show.
W: Not at all.
