GeniusesIn 1905, Albert Einstein developed the theory of special relativity. He also proved that atoms exist and figured out that light behaves as both a particle and a wave. To top it all off, he developed his famous equation E=mcc, which describes the relationship between matter and energy, the same year. He was only 26 years old.Without a doubt, Einstein was a genius. So was Isaac Newton-as any fan of "Star Trek". The Next Generation can say he invented physics. He also played a big role in the development of calculus, which some people have trouble comprehending even after extensive classroom study. Another genius, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, started composing music when he was 5 years old. Mozart wrote hundreds of pieces before his death in 1760 at age 35.According to conventional wisdom, geniuses are different from everyone else. They can think faster and better than other people, In addition, many people think that all that extra brainpower leads to eccentric or quirky behavior. And although geniuses are fairly easy to spot, defining exactly what makes one person a genius is a little trickier. Figuring out how that person became a genius is harder still.There are two big things that make it difficult to study genius:The genius label is subjective. Some people insist that anyone with an intelligence quotient (IQ) higher than a certain value is a genius. Others feel that IQ tests measure only a limited part of a person's total intelligence. Some believe high test scores have little to do with real genius.Genius is a big-picture concept. Most scientific and medical inquiries, on the other band, examine de tails. A concept as subjective as genius isn't easy to quantify, analyze or study.So, when exploring how geniuses work, it's a good idea to start by defining precisely what a genius is. For the purpose of this article, a genius isn't simply someone with an exceptionally high IQ. Instead, a genius is an extraordinarily intelligent person who breaks new ground with discoveries, inventions or works of art. Usually, a genius' work changes the way people view the world or the field in which the work took place. In other words, a genius must be both intelligent and able to use that intelligence in a productive or impressive way.Genius and the BrainThe brain regulates the body's organ systems. When a person moves around, it sends impulses along the nerves and tells the muscles what to do. The brain controls the senses of smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing, and the person experiences and processes emotions using his brain, On top of all that, the brain allows people to think, analyze information and solve problems. But how does it make someone smart?Scientists haven't figured out exactly how all the gray matter in the brain works, but they do have an idea of which part lets people think. The cerebral cortex (大脑皮层), which is the outermost part of the brain, is where thought and reasoning happen. These are the brain's higher function-- the lower functions, which relate to basic survival, take place deeper in the brain.The cerebral cortex is the largest part of the brain, and it's full of wrinkles and folds that allow it to fit in the skull. If an adult human's cerebral cortex is removed and stretched out, it would be about as large as a few pages of a newspaper. It's divided into several lobes(裂片), and different regions within these lobes handle specific tasks related to how people think.In spite of all those challenges to see the brain inside and how it works, researchers have figured out a few things about how the brain affects intelligence. A 2004 study at the University of California, Irvine found that the volume of gray matter in parts of the cerebral cortex had a greater impact on intelligence than the brain's total volume. The findings suggest that the physical attributes of many parts of the brain--rather than a centralized "intelligence center" --determine how smart a person is.Genius and IntelligenceLike genius, intelligence can be difficult to quantify. Psychologists and neuroscientists study intelligence extensively. An entire field of study, known as psychometrics, is devoted to studying and measuring intelligence. But even within that field, experts don't always agree on exactly what it is or how best to analyze it. And while intelligence is central to genius, not all geniuses score well on intelligence tests or perform well in school.Intelligence testing has existed for thousands of years. The tests we know as IQ tests got their start near the end of the 19th century. Today, IQ tests generally measure a person's memory as well as language, spatial and mathematical abilities.IQ tests are also standardized so that most people score between 90 and 110. When placed on a graph, the IQ test scores of a large group of people will generally resemble a bell curve, with most people scoring in the average range. A common perception is that anyone scoring above a certain number--often 140--is automatically a genius. But in spite of the existence of high-IQ organizations, many scientists caution that there is no such thing as a genius-level IQ.Many educators and researchers feel that, in general, standardized IQ tests do a good job of predicting how well a child will perform in school. Schools often use these tests to determine which children to place in gifted or special education classes. Most colleges and universities and some employers also use standardized tests as part of their application processes.Intelligence and AdjustmentOne of the stereotypes surrounding gifted children is that they have trouble fitting in at school. Several scientific studies suggest that the stereotype has a foundation in reality. A Purdue University study of 423 gifted students suggested that they were susceptible to bullying. A 20-year study of gifted children ending in 1940 suggested that the trend of not fitting in continues into adulthood. The study used a test that measured both verbal intelligence and personal adjustment. People who scored above 140 in verbal intelligence generally had lower personal adjustment scores.However, in spite of their prevalence, these tests are not foolproof. In general, some minorities and people with lower income levels tend to score lower than people from other racial and economic groups. Critics contend that this makes IQ tests invalid or unfair. Others argue that they instead point out unfair ness and prejudice within a society.In addition, some researchers and theorists argue that the IQ test is too limiting and doesn't really give a full view of a person's intelligence. These researchers feel that intelligence is a combination of many factors.Creativity and GeniusGeniuses like Einstein are also known for their creativity and productivity--and sometimes for their quirky behavior.There's a big difference between being really smart and being a genius. While geniuses tend to be exceptionally intelligent, they also use imagination and creativity to invent, discover or create something new within their field of interest. They break now ground rather than simply remembering or reciting existing information.The creativity of geniuses also relates to productivity and hard work. Sometimes, the most dramatic examples of genius involve people who produce their best work at a very young age. However, not every genius produces exceptional work early in life the way Einstein and Mozart did. Some, like Ludwig yon Beethoven, do their best work later in life.We may never know precisely where creativity comes from, why some people use their creativity more than others or why some people are most creative during specific times in their lives. We may not learn how one person ends up with the right balance of brainpower, intelligence and creativity to become a genius. But it's clear that geniuses are central to advancements in science, technology and understanding. Without geniuses, our understanding of mathematics, literature and music would be completely different. Concepts that we now take for granted, like gravity, planetary orbits and black holes, might still be undiscovered.