Practice does not always make perfect - you also need an "integrated" brain to achieve good results, scientists have said.

People with higher levels of brain integration are more alert, interested in learning new things, and focused on the "big picture".

They also think "out of the box", and are emotionally stable and unselfish, according to experts.

"It's a simple fact that some people stand out, and we're trying to tease out why," said lead researcher Dr Fred Travis, from the Maharishi University of Management in the US.

"While there's a common notion that 10,000 hours of practice is necessary for high achievement, some people put in long hours and do not excel.

"This work.. suggests that brain integration may be the inner factor that leads to outer success."

Dr Travis studied 21 Swedish product development engineers, a group expected to display high levels of creativity.

His team found a strong correlation between higher flexibility and originality in creativity tests, and higher levels of brain integration, faster decision making, and a sense of being in control.

Co-author Dr Yvonne Lagrosen, from University West in Sweden, said: "Our empirical findings highlight that creativity, in the form of flexibility and originality, is connected to whole brain functioning and psychological development.

"Since creativity is highly important for individual success, optimising brain functioning should be a priority for every student."

Previous research has shown greater brain integration in world-class athletes, top managers and professional musicians, said Dr Travis, whose findings appear in the Creativity Research Journal.

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