Imagination

### Cold Open

Jason Silva: "It's been said logic will get you from a to b, but imagination will take you everywhere. Imagination is one of your brain's most remarkable and mysterious abilities, and the inspiration for all of mankind's greatest creations, no matter how big, small or out of the ordinary. But what exactly is Imagination? What word comes to mind when I say imagination? No matter who you are, or where you come from, chances are you spend a lot of time imagining things, scientists understand imagination a lot less than you might imagine. Where does imagination come from? Why do we imagine at all? And is there a way for you to become more imaginative?"

### Questions

See above.

What is it about dreaming that spurs on imagination?

Why do we dream in the first place?

Is there ever a time when you can't control your thoughts, and your over-active imagination gets the best of you?

## Games

### Game #1: Read Your Mind

A big red X is in the middle of the screen. Picture a triangle. Then, picture a hero.

Result: Most people think of the same hero and type of triangle even though there are many types.

Why: There are common themes and things that make our imagination, called the collective unconscious. New research has uncovered a social unconscious, which are shared beliefs and behaviors which you incorporate into your brain without realizing.

### Game #2: Cookie!

Get a cookie out of a cookie jar. Can you stretch the imagination?

Result: The obvious solutions are out, because it wouldn't be a puzzle if it was obvious. You need to try unconventional thinking, with a flash of inspiration. After some thinking, some volunteers made the creative leap.

### Brain Booster:

During the first three years of your life, your brain has:

* A: No synapses at all
* B: Half the number in adulthood
* C: Double the number in adulthood

The correct answer is C. However, losing synapses declutters the brain and allows more mental functioning.

Now, there's a second part to this puzzle, with new clues. Who will continue to make even greater creative leaps?

Some teams try putting the clocks together along with the pizza. However, the wheel also has a role.

Most teams struggled with the second round.

How: There are two trains of thought with this game. You can use logic to arrive at the answer, or it appears out of thin air in a "eureka moment". Eureka moments occur when gamma waves(neurons coming together) in your brain, making a pathway to let you think of new ideas. Imagination was needed when we needed to do and how we could get through it if our skills weren't enough.

Dreaming lets you imagine more and great ideas can come from it. Dreams let you test ideas out without having them in real life.

### Game #3: Mind Image

Can a simple game of war turn into something more than luck? People will play war against a pro and then a new player.

Result: People bet small against the pro, since they feel something intimidating about him, so they feel less inclined to take a risk. However, people bet a lot against the new player, since they feel he's easier to beat. But there's nothing different in their odds. War is simply a game of luck.

Why: People feel like they can win against the new player, however, their imaginations are misleading them, since both players are the exact same person, and even then, war is still a game of luck, and yet they still bet big. It shows how your brain's perception clouds your judgement, which makes them ignore the luck aspect.

Our imaginations evolved to prepare for the worst-case scenario, however, this same thing applies to best-case scenarios. Check if your fear is real, or is it all imaginary?

### Game #4: It's a Bowl!

Try to visualize objects with just a bowl.

Result: The first time you try, you come up with obvious solutions.

Can you do better?

Result: Who knows?

### Cold Close:

Jason Silva: "The best ideas come to us when we least expect them, like when you're in the shower or mowing the lawn. Your brain is actually much more active when you are performing tasks that don't take too much thought. So let your mind wander. Don't be afraid to daydream. Stay open to all possibilties!

You never know where your next great idea might come from. Imagine that!"

#### Trivia

This episode has the least amount of games ever, in any episode of brain games, including 60-minute ones and 30-minute episodes.