XmisterIS
Purveyor of fine nonsense
I have often wondered why I am academically gifted (don't laugh, it's true!
) I tend to learn new cognitive information very fast, I am top of the class at the moment in University, I am on course to graduate with a 1st and I always score very highly on I.Q. tests.
BUT ...
My performance at physical tasks is just the opposite! I was the kid at school with two left feet who never got picked for the football team; I am cack-handed, I bang into things, I drop things, I have not much dexterity (can't ride a bike no-handed, would never trust myself doing one of those off-road assault courses for bikes), can't throw straight, etc, etc.
In contrast to my fast learning ability with cognitive information, my ability to learn new physical activities requiring co-ordination could best be described as remedial!
For example, I will read an academic paper on some complex theory and I tend to understand it quickly and then end up explaining it to my classmates!
In contrast, I remember when I learned to ride a motorbike - I was all over the place! By the time the other students were whizzing round, changing gear, doing all sorts of things competently, I was still trying to get the hang of clutch-control. In fact I did my CBT twice because I was so lousy the first time round and I ended up doing my CBT on a twist-n-go because I just couldn't get the hang of changing gear. And here's the important point - I do eventually learn to accomplish complex physical tasks (I currently ride an SV650 - geared big bike), it just takes me twice as long as everyone else!
I can find it incredibly frustrating to watch someone accomplish with effortless ease and rapidity, a task of manual dexterity that I have taken ages to accomplish, with a great deal of concentration, if I was ever capable of it at all (there are things that I've tried my damndest to do and just failed because I simply haven't got the coordination!) ... similarly, I imagine that some of my classmates find it frustrating that I can just learn "stuff" without even trying, whereas they struggle and still don't understand it.
So ... for the neuroscientists amongst you, what is the difference in brain structure between me and my polar opposite - someone who is as thick as the proverbial, but is physically incredibly gifted? And how about those golden wonders (not the crisps) who seem to have high academic and "physical" intelligence? (I've known people like that ...
). And pity the poor buggers who are as thick as the proverbial and as clumsy as hell (I've known people like that too ...
).#
I've read various competing theories on the subject, none of which seem to be conclusive and many of which are contradictory! So what do you think?
BUT ...
My performance at physical tasks is just the opposite! I was the kid at school with two left feet who never got picked for the football team; I am cack-handed, I bang into things, I drop things, I have not much dexterity (can't ride a bike no-handed, would never trust myself doing one of those off-road assault courses for bikes), can't throw straight, etc, etc.
In contrast to my fast learning ability with cognitive information, my ability to learn new physical activities requiring co-ordination could best be described as remedial!
For example, I will read an academic paper on some complex theory and I tend to understand it quickly and then end up explaining it to my classmates!
In contrast, I remember when I learned to ride a motorbike - I was all over the place! By the time the other students were whizzing round, changing gear, doing all sorts of things competently, I was still trying to get the hang of clutch-control. In fact I did my CBT twice because I was so lousy the first time round and I ended up doing my CBT on a twist-n-go because I just couldn't get the hang of changing gear. And here's the important point - I do eventually learn to accomplish complex physical tasks (I currently ride an SV650 - geared big bike), it just takes me twice as long as everyone else!
I can find it incredibly frustrating to watch someone accomplish with effortless ease and rapidity, a task of manual dexterity that I have taken ages to accomplish, with a great deal of concentration, if I was ever capable of it at all (there are things that I've tried my damndest to do and just failed because I simply haven't got the coordination!) ... similarly, I imagine that some of my classmates find it frustrating that I can just learn "stuff" without even trying, whereas they struggle and still don't understand it.
So ... for the neuroscientists amongst you, what is the difference in brain structure between me and my polar opposite - someone who is as thick as the proverbial, but is physically incredibly gifted? And how about those golden wonders (not the crisps) who seem to have high academic and "physical" intelligence? (I've known people like that ...
I've read various competing theories on the subject, none of which seem to be conclusive and many of which are contradictory! So what do you think?
