{"id":1420,"date":"2011-02-02T02:00:33","date_gmt":"2011-02-02T06:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mathgradblog.williams.edu\/?p=1420"},"modified":"2011-02-02T02:00:33","modified_gmt":"2011-02-02T06:00:33","slug":"happy-mathematician-productive-mathematician","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ams.org\/mathgradblog\/2011\/02\/02\/happy-mathematician-productive-mathematician\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Mathematician, Productive Mathematician?"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Kareem Carr<\/a><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

An article<\/a> by Benedict Carey in the New York Times last month highlighted a study that might shed some insight both on why mathematics is so enjoyable and how to get slightly better at resolving otherwise puzzling research problems. Carey wrote that,<\/p>\n

In a just completed study, researchers at Northwestern University found that people were more likely to solve word puzzles with sudden insight when they were amused, having just seen a short comedy routine.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The article continues by saying that,<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we think is happening,\u201d said Mark Beeman, a neuroscientist who conducted the study with Karuna Subramaniam, a graduate student, \u201cis that the humor, this positive mood, is lowering the brain\u2019s threshold for detecting weaker or more remote connections\u201d to solve puzzles.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We tend to emphasize the thrill that we experience at the end of solving a tricky problem as being the primary reward of hours of work. However, the article argues that the journey itself toward the goal can be enjoyable.<\/p>\n

I am probably not doing the general thesis of the article sufficient justice and you should probably go read it when you’re done reading this. However, the idea seems to be that a positive state of mind is associated with a more open state of mind and vice versa. Therefore, having a positive frame of mind makes us more receptive to insight.<\/p>\n

Perhaps, this is part of the reason why mathematician often comes up<\/a> as one of the best jobs. Could it be that mathematics selects for more positive people?<\/p>\n

[Image courtesy of Daveybot<\/a> of Flickr]<\/p>\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Kareem Carr An article by Benedict Carey in the New York Times last month highlighted a study that might shed some insight both on why mathematics is so enjoyable and how to get slightly better at resolving otherwise puzzling … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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