I once read a book called Positive Addiction. It was primarily about how solitary runners become addicted to their running, and occasionally this also happens to those who practice yoga. I would posit that something similar is going on with many musicians who spend a lot of time practicing elementary things like scales, may be involved in the psychological make-up of hackers, and can happen for math students if the curriculum is right - this would be a kind of education that would go beyond mere knowledge and understanding to develop a type of mindset that is incredibly conducive to theoretical creativity (and also very pleasant to experience).  

Students and professors alike are always talking about how you don't need to memorize everything when you can always look it up or use a calculator - and this kind of learning can suffice for an engineer, or a teacher. However, if you are at all interested in being a theorist (as I am), it seems to me that there comes a certain point where you won't think to look something up. The spark of creativity can only form a fire amidst already gathered kindling; a crop can only grow from properly fertilized ground. Memorization takes time and effort, yes, but in my opinion it is well worth it. My Pre-Algebra through Pre-Calculus math inculcation came through the Saxon curriculum, and without that kind of background I don’t think I ever would’ve had the skills, and definitely not the courage or interest, to be a physics major. Maybe this is not necessary for those born with good math skills, but for me it was revolutionary, and I think that even those who are naturally good at math can benefit immensely. Still, Saxon is not exactly rote memorization, it is definitely not the you-have-to-role-play-every-famous-mathematician 'discovery approach,' but there is a backbone order to the continual practice that is soothing for anybody who starts out afraid of math...but maybe it's not right for everybody. Probably there isn't any method that is right for everybody, which is why the freedom of self-schooling is always your best bet.

Perhaps the phenomenon of autistic savants arises from the autistic habits of repetition...? The Tesla autobiography really makes me think that he was somewhat autistic, and perhaps a savant. He seemed to think that his spacial abilities could be taught, and suggested that all engineers should learn to think in that manner. He didn't, however suggest any methods. But I wonder if, through imitating the behaviors of autistics (basically, habitualizing everything and minimizing interpersonal interactions and emotions), a person could become autistic, and perhaps even a savant?

Why is it that deep thinking is so often accompanied by pacing, in all people?

calendrical skills not unique?

savant central - ok, this'll take a while to digest...

Everybody is always referring to Rain Man, but another pertinent movie is House of Cards. Actually, that movie gets terrible reviews, and to an extent I can see why, but it still holds some interest.
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