Latent inhibition is a kind of filter that filters out informational rubbish and does not allow overloading the brain. If this filter fails or does not work correctly, then the mind is filled with information coming from outside through the senses. Information overload may well lead a person to insanity.
What happens to a person with a low level of latent inhibition
Latent inhibition, as a phenomenon, was determined by scientists in the middle of the XIX century. With the help of studies conducted in the field of studying the ability of the brain to filter out the information flow, it was possible to find out that a low level of latent inhibition indicates mental abnormalities. Based on studies of human behavior, scientists have proven that brain chemistry changes in the early stages of schizophrenia, after which latent inhibition decreases dramatically.
By the behavior of a person, and even by appearance, it is easy to determine what his level of latent inhibition is. Concentration, the ability to concentrate, concentration, attentiveness, responsibility speak of a high level. And vice versa: the dispersion in movements and thoughts, the inability to hold attention on one subject for a long time, jumping from one topic to another, wandering, often absent glance and irresponsible behavior - all these are symptoms of latent inhibition with a low level.
Latent braking as a protective mechanism
A living organism has many protective mechanisms. And the ability to discard information that is secondary to survival and comfortable existence is one of them. For example, an ordinary person walking in a stream of people is focused only on not encountering people moving nearby.
And a person with a low level of protection against the incoming flow of information will notice and remember what people are walking next to, their facial expressions, snatches of conversations, smells. At this time, their unfortunate brain will feverishly process the information that has fallen upon it, not having time, confusing, experiencing severe overloads.
Animal latency
Animals have practical intelligence. They are able to unconsciously ignore information that is not directly related to their survival and procreation. Scientists who studied latent inhibition, conducted some experiments with rats.
During one of the experiments, the animals were given a signal, which was not followed by any action. After a short period of time, the rats ceased to react to the sound, since it did not carry any danger or any other circumstances.
Chances of survival
The human brain in most cases works the same as in animals. That is, latent inhibition, if it works correctly, helps a person concentrate on the information necessary for practical use, namely for survival and rearing of offspring in optimally comfortable conditions.
From this we can conclude that people with a sufficient level of latent inhibition have every chance of surviving to old age, dying in abundance and surrounded by numerous descendants. How to develop latent inhibition? Can this be done at all? If it is possible to improve the ability to concentrate, then probably yes.
Creativity or schizophrenia
It would seem that low latent inhibition contributes to the processing of more information, and hence the acquisition of more life experience. This increases the ability of a person to think more openly, more broadly and creatively.
However, the creativity of thinking with low latent inhibition must be balanced by a high level of intelligence and a fair amount of willpower in order to be able to analyze the continuous flow of information.
Scientists conducted research by testing several student groups for the interconnectedness of the level of intelligence, creativity of thinking and latent inhibition. After processing the tests, it turned out that the level of latent inhibition in creatively thinking students is seven times lower than in the rest.
In one of the issues of the specialized edition of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, a scientific article was published, where eminent scientists at Harvard and the University of Toronto proved the relationship between the ability to creative thinking and the incorrect functioning of the brain.
That is, the ability to think creatively (creatively) is a state of abnormality, as the inability to filter out information flows is a consequence of human brain activity disturbances.
Scientists have also investigated the level of latent inhibition in people with schizophrenia. It turned out that in a person with such a disease, it is negligible.
Low latent inhibition as a factor of genius
The secret of genius lies in the originality of thought and the ability to look at things from a different angle. The test students who had a high degree of IQ with low latent inhibition had a very high level of creativity.
The same researchers, among whom were Jordan Peterson and Shelley Carson, made shocking conclusions based on the work done. Low latent inhibition, according to these scientists, may well be a factor in genius. But this is only if a high level of intelligence, excellent memory and willpower are applied to it.