Elkhonon Goldberg - Creativity: The Human Brain in the Age of Innovation

Countless contributions have dealt with the psychological, socio-cultural, cognitive, evolutionary aspects of creativity. The neuroanatomical and physiological aspects have been explored to a limited extent: which is odd, as creativity is the product of brains activity. Elkhonon Goldbergs book has the brain as its undisputed main character; this makes it uniquely important. The role of the brains physiology and anatomy in the generation of creativity, with the frontal lobe and the prefrontal cortex in the privileged position, are discussed exhaustively and masterfully. Goldberg spices the discussions with his experiences as a young neuroscientist in the Soviet Union to deal with important, but lesser known, aspects of creativity. This book is written with great literary skill, making reading it really enjoyable. Goldberg is a first rate neuroscientist and a born writer.

Ernesto Carafoli, MD, Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Italy

Creativity, that most charismatic of human mysteries, cant be reduced into the action of a few simple brain processors. In Creativity, Elkhonon Goldberg, a pioneer in research into novelty and routine in the brain, and one of the greatest integrative thinkers in modern neuroscience, is subtle, judicious, relentlessly curious, fun and brutally honest about what neuroscience knows, and doesnt know, about the subject. He guides us through decades of research, to show that perhaps the most striking thing about our plastic organ of creativity, is that, while there are certain basic patterns in the creative brain, they are only starting points; the brains circuitry, being so plastic, likely has just as many different ways of helping to produce creative states, as there are human ways of being creative. No one interested in the neuroscience of creativity can afford to miss this book.

Norman Doidge, MD, author of The Brain That Changes Itself and The Brains Way of Healing, Toronto, Canada

As a former copywriter and Worldwide Creative Director of a large international advertising company, my days were spent trying to control and direct the creative efforts. There was no manual to refer to, we had to be creative. After reading Dr. Goldbergs new book, I realize we had no understanding of what that really meant. There is so much in here I wish I could have accessed and was unsettled by the accurate description of the mental ping pong game which I have unconsciously employed throughout my career. Dr. Goldberg has obviously travelled extensively and his observations and experiences seem like a beautifully written journey in themselves until he leads one to the point where he reveals even more involving aspects of creativity in other cultures and even species. As far as this book is concerned, Dr. Goldberg clearly knows what hes doing when it comes to Creativity.

John Fawcett, Creative Director, Balucate, Sydney, Australia

What an inspired marriage of Creativity and Neuroscience (big C, big N), officiated by a brave scientist and original thinker. This book will spark new research, new toolkits, new conversationsand much creativity.

Alvaro Fernandez, MBA, MA, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of SharpBrains, Washington, DC

Elkhonon Goldbergs new book, Creativity: The Human Brain in the Age of Innovation is a very insightful study of our brains in a time of accelerating and multi-dimensional change. It is the fruit of both scholarly research and many decades of experience. He explores several key concepts: Salience, how does our brain determine what is of real importance and relevance and put it ahead of the neural line? Hyperfrontality-Hypofrontality, our brains going through intense engagement with a problem and then the Aha moment comes during sleep or when taking a walk. Small-world networks, whose strong connectivity with each other leads to new and surprising insights and solutions. Creativity is a wonderful addition to Dr. Goldbergs body of work.

Bienvenido F. Nebres, National Scientist, Professor of Mathematics, Past-President of Ateneo de Manila University, Manila, Philippines

Elkhonon Goldberg, PhD, a leading-edge neuropsychologist and broad-ranging thinker, has provided a brilliant, synthetic account of human creativity. A sophisticated understanding of brain function is combined with insights from contemporary psychology, evolutionary biology, and cross-cultural studies to elucidate the key processes underlying innovation in the arts, sciences and all areas of human endeavor. Indeed, Goldberg says that creativity is not a unitary phenomenon, and many different neural functions and network interactions coordinate to produce and appreciate novel, meaningful thoughts and acts. How and why this all comes together, and what it means for our species and its future, are just a few of the big issues addressed in this masterful and engaging book.

David Silbersweig, MD, Co-Director, Neuroscience Center and Professor of Psychiatry, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Also by Elkhonon Goldberg

The Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes and the Civilized Mind
(Oxford University Press, December 2002)

The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger
As Your Brain Grows Older
(Gotham Books, February 2006)

The New Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes in a Complex World
(Oxford University Press, August 2009)

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Elkhonon Goldberg 2018

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Goldberg, Elkhonon, author.

Title: Creativity : the human brain in the age of innovation / by Elkhonon Goldberg.

Description: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017008677 | ISBN 9780190466497 (alk. paper) | ISBN 9780190466510 (epub)

Subjects: | MESH: Brainphysiology | Creativity

Classification: LCC QP376 | NLM WL 300 | DDC 612.8/2dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017008677

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