GOD

Ok, I have been digging around a bit more trying to see if there is any connection between tea and white matter, and if it can (in large doses) lead to better outcomes for children. (I was easily the most lateral kid at school (And beyond) but I had an absolutely insatiable appetite to drink tea)

I haven't really seen anything of merit other than potentially it provides (very hypothetically) a higher level of the required chemical(s) for myelination re glial cells wrapping around the axons (Given this takes up to the second decade in life). If it strengthened the myelination then could provide a far clearer signal and thus better resolution of less pronounced parts of the brain providing inputs. Also, there is the issue whether there could be some chemical ability to reduce the atrophy of white connections and thus retain greater lateralisation rather than strengthened directional sensing.

However, it seems more likely that neuro plasticity is the key to lateral and innovative thinking. Furthermore it would appear that a key driver to this is the inability to memorise and be "sensing" (Given that academic schooling places high priority on sensing), Because of this the subject needs to memorise by association (Quite possibly their mind is configured for associations and thus discrete information storage is a negative attribute relative to peers). As mentioned before this is possibly why the like of Einstein et al are slower initial developers simply because their mindset takes longer to configure.

Associative learning can take place with all the senses, a hearing association with a visual representation etc. All subjects do this just that lateral thinkers excel through need or desire (or both).

Tests show that utilisation of different parts of the brain strengthens the white connectivity pathways, and thus the associative mindset requires lateral associations to compensate (in some cases) for the inability to use sensing functions.

In effect the strengthened ability to patch the inability of sensing allows them to progress, however when they move beyond sensing academia they can use the full force of their associative understandings and perception.

The difference also is one of relationships in understanding. A target object might have a certain function, the sensor would recall (I would believe) the one to one relationship to achieve the desired outcome. The associative thinker would recall the required associations, which could be many and many unusual permutations. It is these unsual permutations that give rise to innovation. The way these associative permutations are attenuated is via parameter invalidity, if they are outside the criteria (and there can be many) then they are discounted, although unique and highly original perceptions can be set aside for later analysis.