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(2/2011) Book Review: Your Creative Brain
Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximize Imagination, Productivity, and Innovation in Your Life (Havard Health Publicaitons/2010) By Shelley Carson, PhD.
Dr. Carson has written an intriguing book about the need of creativity for human survival–challenges and dangers one encounters. Is it any wonder that the thought put into movies 
never ceases to enthrall viewers, as characters such as Jason Bourne and Evelyn Salt think their way out of deadly scenarios? Though fiction, true-life is just as fascinating. Recall Jonathan Metz, the young man trapped in his furnace for three days, who amputated his own arm with household tools to save his life. The survival instinct and the smell of his own rotting flesh, kicked in his creativity, even though he “floated in and out of consciousness.” Metz is a survivor.
Dr. Carson mentions several key areas of the brain which are used in creativity. One in the amygdala, which “determines whether there’s a potential threat.” This structure’s purpose is to send a “fight or flight” response to your body. Fear and anxiety are roused “depending on the degree of danger.” If the threat is thought to be false, “the alarm” goes to the executive center (planning, abstract reasoning, decision making) and is turned off.
Dr. Carson elaborates with, “Fear is important for survival; so when the amygdala is active, your thought processes are emotionally hijacked and your ability to think creatively is diminished.” Fear must learn to be controlled.
Dr. Shelley Carson teaches, conducts research, and publishes on the topics of creativity, psychopathology, and resilience at Harvard University. Her work has been featured on the Discovery Channel, CNN and NPR. Her popular course “Creativity: Madmen, Geniuses, and Harvard Students” has earned her several teaching awards.
Your Creative Brain also highlights the intricacies and necessary steps using imagination, productivity and innovation. This awareness will help one improve his physical and mental health, boost self-esteem, find a mate, engage the kids, sharpen the mind and memory warding off mental decline, and bring out artistic ideas.
I recommend Your Creative Brain to readers. Find the author online at www.ShelleyCarson.com
Kelly Jad’on is the founder of www.BasilAndSpice.com, a daily content provider to online news organizations. Begun in 2006, using a SquareSpace blogging platform, Basil & Spice has become a dynamic blogsite hosting over 400 contributors.
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