Crossword Puzzles & Morphic Resonance

[Khandro]

Do people who do crosswords (I don't) when stumped for an answer, instead of asking for assistance on AB, put it aside & return to it later in the day & find the solution more easily; possibly even wondering why they didn't see it before ?

[1ozzy]

I do, refreshing the mind makes a difference.
Penny drop moments are both precious and embarrassing.

[Arrods]

Same here.

[Neveracrossword]

I set unfinished crosswords aside, and hope that my brain will continue beavering away, quietly and effectively, in the background. It sometimes works.

[emmie]

when all else has failed, i have asked for answers on here, but don't do crosswords now, except the morning alpha puzzle.

[Khandro]

I ask because there is a theory, first mooted about 30 years ago, not proven nor disproven, - & surprisingly supported by some brilliant scientists, called 'morphic resonance' - a collective intra species memory. " If rats learn a new trick in London, rats of the same kind all over the world should be able to learn it quicker thereafter"

I wonder if, because by later in the day, the crossword will have been solved by many puzzlers that it becomes easier for the person who put it aside earlier.

[aelmpvw]

doesn't seem to work with alphapuzzle on ab . . .

[1ozzy]

pseudoscience sums it up nicely, but, refreshing your own mind works for me.

[ScienceNoob]

"theory" in science means an established idea for explaining observations. "Morphic resonance is not established, barely even based on any observations, it's just pseudoscience

Brains think about things in the background all the time, wouldn't be a surprise to see a flash of insight help solve a problem.

[Khandro]

//pseudoscience sums it up nicely, but, refreshing your own mind works for me.//

Calling it pseudoscience (which it may well be) doesn't disprove the theory, & what does 'refreshing your mind' mean exactly?

[roopower]

I do this with the charity quizzes, I quite often find when I return to them later, I can see more answers. Probably because I try to look at the clue from a different angle. Whether that's classed as morphic resonance, I haven't a clue.

[chelle7272]

When you read a clue you sometimes get stuck on reading it only one way, especially cryptic ones, and often the way the setter has purposefully tried to misdirect you. If you put it aside a while you can often get a fresh perspective. Or at least feel more up to the job of looking for one!

[Canary42]

As regards the specific crossword question, yes that happens to me quite often.

But it isn't really surprising if you think about it (pun unintended), the brain works on a lot of things without us conciously prompting it, e.g. breathing, digesting, heartbeat, etc. So I guess that having been presented with a problem, it beavers away seeking a solution, and provides it when we consciously return to that issue.

I've no idea whether that's morphic whatever.

[aelmpvw]

an elusive crossword answer sometimes comes to me when i'm walking the dog, perhaps exercise stimulates the brain?

[sandyRoe]

Sometimes I've posted a crossword clue here in AB and the answer has immediately popped into my mind.

[Hazlinny]

If I've been puzzling on an answer for a crossword/quiz, etc., the answer just seems to pop into my head when I'm in bed (bed brain).

[choux]

I am puzzled to find the connection between the OP and Religion & Spirituality...

[Khandro]

Yes I know what you mean, a few days ago in conversation I couldn't think of the name of a country. I tried describing it in a variety of ways without success, finally being driven mad, I got up out of the chair, walked up a flight of stairs into a room, found the shelf, reached for the atlas & as my hand touched it to withdraw it.......... Albania ! :0)

[nailit]

Khandro,
We havn't exactly been best mates on AB, but
I'll give you this one....
We ARE talking about Sheldrakes 'morphic resonance' ideas aren't
we?

Because something that regularly freaks me out is thinking about a friend etc (quite randomly) and within hours they call me.

This happened only a few days ago....
Spent the day on and off thinking about getting in touch with
someone who I had not heard much of recently and intended to
give them a call. They rang ME!
Before I got to the phone, I knew instinctively who it was.

I quiet often recieve texts and know who it is before I get
the phone out of my pocket.

AND *I'M* the AB sceptic but sometimes this stuff freaks me out.

[nailit]

Its more than chance would allow btw....

[Hazlinny]

Something similar, Nailit .... I can be typing an e-mail to someone I haven't been in touch with lately and that someone is sending one to me at the same time! Telepathy?