by Tim Brunson, PhD

Over the past several decades I have studied numerous people who have achieved mastery in one or more physical or mental skills. Among them were athletes, musicians, scholars, scientists, and even spiritual adepts. I even included in this austere group those who have overcome terminal illnesses miraculously by changing their thought processes. While some of them have translated misfortune or even physical deformities into opportunities to develop specific habits, many were average people for whom circumstances led them to focus on allowing greatness to occur.

During my research into the origins of masterful performance, much was learned when looking at extreme cases. This included individuals who were introduced to particular endeavors very early in life, as well as those that pursued specific interests later in life and were able to focus during thousands of hours of practice. However, some of the most interesting case studies involved the amazing abilities of prodigious savants such as Kim Peek (mnemonist, speed reader, and calculator), Daniel Tammet (mathematical synesthesia, language absorption, and memory), and Alonzo Clemmons (clay sculptor). Another phenomena that I became interested in were innovations in neuroplasticity, which shows the brain's ability to reorganize, and the seemingly related concept regarding innovations in stroke recovery – especially the work of Edward Taub, PhD, at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

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