Neocortical abilities—for example, the ability of the neocortex to master the signals of fear that the amygdala generates (when presented with disapproval)—play a significant role, as do attributes such as confidence, organizational skills, and the ability to influence others. A very important skill I noted earlier is the courage to pursue ideas that go against the grain of orthodoxy. Invariably, people we regard as geniuses pursued their own mental experiments in ways that were not initially understood or appreciated by their peers.
