The Gifted Dyslexic and Insight Learning (Part 4)

Insight is when a person uses intuition and daydreaming to solve problems. According to the Eide’s:

In the first phase, the mind focuses actively upon the problem at hand and sets out the questions that need to be answered. This highly focused phrase quickly gives way to a relaxation phase, where the mind loosens its focus and begins to wander.

… [what] the brain is waiting on is the recognition of “distant or novel associations or relationships,” which are just the kinds of connections that individuals with dyslexia typically excel at making…

This widespread electrical burst [in the brain] creates the subjective sensation of the eureka moment. (153)

Because of its intuitive nature, insight is potent but can be a slow process.

• The daydreamy aspect of insight can make it look like the gifted dyslexic is goofing off.
• This is because the best ideas come when the person isn’t actively working on the problem.
• Also, the intuitive nature of insight can make it difficult for gifted dyslexics to explain how they arrived at their conclusions, making it so that others don’t trust the dyslexics’ ideas.

Insight is particularly useful in settings where the variables are only partially known, in flux, or unclear.

• Gifted dyslexics who exhibit a pronounced insight ability often excel in swiftly changing and uncertain situations, which others find overwhelming.
• Its usefulness derives from the dyslexic brain’s extensively integrated neural network that facilitates connecting unconventional and seemingly unrelated patterns.
• Thus, they can identify patterns that are very similar to the original concepts, instead of relying on abstract generalities to draw conclusions from the data.