Question: Is there any research to show that talent is connected to the brain?

anon answered on 8 Mar 2021:

Hi JoeL,

Very interesting idea! Though I think it is near impossible to separate genetic effects from environmental factors, which in turn affect our brains. For example, a footballer player may pass their ‘football genes’ to their child, but that child will grow up in a household where football is highly encouraged and is a big part of their life. You can’t really say which contributed more to the child now playing for England! Also, there is something called gene-environment correlation. For example, where the above child plays well in football, it evokes the footballer parent to keep encouraging practice.
Some brain studies have shown that some people with talents have differently wired brains. Though the issue is here what comes first? If we think of neuroplasticity (where the brains connections strengthen and weaken with practice of skills, like playing a piano or knowledge such as learning a language) then we can say they both affect and be affected by the environment, as above in the football idea!