The Neuroscience Behind Polymathy

The exciting thing about polymathy is not only its fascinating nature, but also its relative novelty as a field of study. In the research article The Polymath (Re)Defined: A Review from Ancient Greece to Modern Day (2020), Araki and Berg speak about the “significant increase in the interest in polymathy in recent years. 47 out of 62 works (76%) were published in the period starting in 2000.” 

One of the most promising strands of inquiry is “temperament research”. It draws on an integrated view that combines neurophysiology, kinesiology, medicine, and experimental findings with both humans and animals to unveil the most stable, universal, and consistent traits that can explain behavior. Irina Trofimova, renowned clinical psychologist, authored the Functional Ensemble of Temperament (FET) neurochemical model. Based on her model, Trofimova suggested that people with strong polymathic traits have five stand out features:

Probabilistic thinking,  Probabilistic thinking is a trait regarding the behavioral orientation toward gathering a wide range of information about the frequency and causes of events, facilitating the prediction of their future occurrence. It is related to the ability and desire to construct and refine one’s own “map of reality,” enabling one to form (appropriate) predictions and expectations about the world. There is a close association between probabilistic thinking and polymathy because both involve the capacity to “sort out” new information, process new knowledge, organize and make sense of disparate pieces of information. Polymaths with high probabilistic thinking are a powerful mix due to their ability to rapidly and effectively sort information, as well as to refer to different contexts when necessary, analyzing relevant factors and constructing one’s own map of how things work, ultimately predicting outcomes in an appropriate fashion and noticing inconsistencies and gaps that might be elusive to others.

Plasticity, which is shared with other (non-polymathic) creative types. Plasticity indicates flexibility, the ability to switch fluidly between courses of action as circumstances demand. The higher degree of brain plasticity means the higher ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization.

Sustained attention or mental endurance, which indicates the ability to see tasks through to satisfactory completion. This is the characteristic that distinguishes polymaths from dilatants/multipotentialites/Scanners, etc., who usually cannot engage with projects long term. Polymaths usually do not abandon tasks; they continue to develop their ideas and visions. This can be associated with the function of the acetylcholine systems in the prefrontal cortex. In the following extract, Irina Trofimova addressed this phenomenon, delving into the mechanisms behind polymaths’ accomplishments in diverse areas:

“While a polymath decides to explore one subject, another subject still continues (to work) in the back of his or her mind. That’s why there's so much integration in the polymathic mind. This is how they benefit from crossing projects.”

In common with other creative types, polymaths possess a strong dopaminergic system in their frontal lobes. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in how we feel pleasure, and it's a big part of our unique ability to think and plan, helping us strive, focus, and find things interesting.

One notable feature regarding the kappa opioid receptor system (associated with neuroticism): recent studies have found evidence of an inversely proportional relationship between polymathic traits and neuroticism. This means that polymaths can try different things without anxiety or fear of failure, distinguishing them from monomath artists who usually have a high degree of anxiety.

A preference for novelty (inferred to indicate increased noradrenaline activity), and as a consequence polymathic people have a harder time executing formulaic tasks that require repetitive behavior, and will frequently underperform if there is not enough novelty in a task. This is particularly notable with children - while some are fine with repetitive actions, others (often the polymaths) are constantly on the lookout for novelty, which can be highly challenging for their parents and teachers. Overall, polymathic people are quick learners, comprehending tasks and messages quickly due to their high cortical capacities, and their physical integration is usually as active as their mental integration. Polymaths have a special strength: due to the configuration of their mu receptor system (which modulates memory, mood, and motivation) and high production of endorphins, they always feel secure. “Look how Leonardo Da Vinci was criticized”, said Irina Trofimova, “They do not care about uncertainty because they know they will survive somehow.” Once people with polymathic traits master a game, process, or skill, they receive their neurological "reward" and tend to move on to something new. Because of this, not only do they get a steady stream of new information, but their brain creates more novel neural connections, making it easier to continue learning. The more they know, the more effectively and easily they harness the power of associative learning (the process of relating new things to what they already know) through recognizing the relationship between seemingly unrelated knowledge.

Researchers at Ruhr-Universität Bochum and Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, have now discovered how this process is reflected in the brain. As Dr. Erhan Genç and his colleagues reported in the European Journal of Personality, the neurons of people with variegated knowledge are more widely interconnected. The scientists examined the brains of 324 subjects using diffusion tensor imaging, a technique that allows the reconstruction of nerve fiber connections in the brain. In addition, the participants had to complete a general knowledge test that included 300 questions from a wide range of subjects, including art, architecture, and chemistry. This research showed that subjects whose brains were particularly efficiently networked also performed better in the knowledge test.

The correlation between novelty seeking and level of satisfaction/positive feedback is indeed interesting. The renowned specialist in brain physiology, Vyacheslav Dubynin, from Moscow State University, claims: “Exploratory-oriented people tend to have a very large contribution of the sanguine temperament. If such people lack new information, they lack positive emotions. For them, it is important that something new happens every day.”

Discover more fascinating facts and studies on polymathy in WHY POLYMATHS?