The impact of brain training on creativity...brain training and our ability to shape our output....
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emoonal intelligence worldwide langley group [email protected] www.langleygroup.com.au Emotions impact creative thinking Positive moods help with creative tasks, likely to generate a greater number of arguments/options; more receptive, big picture thinking (eg Fredrickson 2001; Jung-Beeman 2007; Subramaniam et al 2009; Caruso & Salovey 1990). Neutral or slightly negative moods result in a more careful, systematic, bottoms up processing; better quality arguments (eg Forgas & Wyland 2006). Introduction Research aim. Investigate impact that neuroscience training, attentional focus and emotional state can have on creative insight. Establish if: • Teaching people about brain regions that fire during moments of insight, along with attentional focus in this area, could induce higher incidences of insight above what could be achieved by inducing positive mood. • People can control brain focus to increase moments of creative insight. Hypothesis. Relaxed attention will lead to a greater difference in creative insight than positive mood or no attention. Method The impact of brain training on creativity by Sue Langley Can we manipulate our brains and level of creative insight? Literature Mindfulness and brain training Experienced meditators can shift their level of compassion by dialling up or down brain activity levels (Lutz 2008). Creative insight in the brain The anterior cingulate cortex and right superior temporal gyrus, have been found active prior to moments of creative insight (Jung-Beeman et al 2004). Participants. Normal adult sample (N=116), EIW database. Procedure. Random control trial. Online research. 1 2 3 In neuroscience training attention was directed to anterior cingulate cortex and right anterior superior temporalgyrus) Analysis. Mean, Mann-Whitney U test, correlation, linear regression. Materials Stait-Trait-Cheerfulness Inventory (Ruch, Kohler & van Thriel 1996). Current mood measured for cheerfulness, seriousness, bad mood. Positive mood induction video. Selected by researcher, tested on pilot group. Neuroscience training, attentional focus exercise. By researcher. Creative insight task. Compound remote associate problems (Bowden & Beeman 2003). Positive moods seem beneficial in generating creative output, both quantity and quality; and are more effective than negative moods in generating creative output (Langley 2013). Current mood questionnaire. Control group completed creative insight task. Positive mood group watched positive video, insight task. Experimental group took neuroscience lesson and focus exercise, then completed insight task. Creative task solution measured by self-report (immediate insight, delayed insight or exploration), subjective comments.
Transcript of The impact of brain training on creativity...brain training and our ability to shape our output....
emotional intelligence worldwidelangley group
www.langleygroup.com.au
Emotions impact creative thinkingPositive moods help with creative tasks, likely to generate a greater number of arguments/options; more receptive, big picture thinking (eg Fredrickson 2001; Jung-Beeman 2007; Subramaniam et al 2009; Caruso & Salovey 1990).
Neutral or slightly negative moods result in a more careful, systematic, bottoms up processing; better quality arguments (eg Forgas & Wyland 2006).
IntroductionResearch aim. Investigate impact that neuroscience training, attentional focus and emotional state can have on creative insight. Establish if:
• Teaching people about brain regions that fire during moments of insight, along with attentional focus in this area, could induce higher incidences of insight above what could be achieved by inducing positive mood.
• People can control brain focus to increase moments of creative insight.
Hypothesis. Relaxed attention will lead to a greater difference in creative insight than positive mood or no attention.
Method
The impact of brain training on creativity
by Sue Langley
Can we manipulate our brains and level of creative insight?
Literature
Mindfulness and brain trainingExperienced meditators can shift their level of compassion by dialling up or down brain activity levels (Lutz 2008).
Creative insight in the brainThe anterior cingulate cortex and right superior temporal gyrus, have been found active prior to moments of creative insight (Jung-Beeman et al 2004).
Participants. Normal adult sample (N=116), EIW database.
Procedure. Random control trial. Online research.
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In neuroscience training attention was directed to anterior cingulate cortex and right anterior superior temporalgyrus)
Analysis. Mean, Mann-Whitney U test, correlation, linear regression.
MaterialsStait-Trait-Cheerfulness Inventory (Ruch, Kohler & van Thriel 1996). Current mood measured for cheerfulness, seriousness, bad mood. Positive mood induction video. Selected by researcher, tested on pilot group.Neuroscience training, attentional focus exercise. By researcher.Creative insight task. Compound remote associate problems (Bowden & Beeman 2003).
Positive moods seem beneficial in generating creative output, both quantity and quality; and are more effective than negative moods in generating creative output (Langley 2013).
Current mood questionnaire.
Control group completed creative insight task. Positive mood group watched positive video, insight task. Experimental group took neuroscience lesson and focus exercise, then completed insight task.
Creative task solution measured by self-report (immediate insight, delayed insight or exploration), subjective comments.
emotional intelligence worldwidelangley group
www.langleygroup.com.au
The impact of brain training on creativityCan we manipulate our brains and level of creative insight?
Results Key findings. There were no significant differences between the experimental and control group in either PCI (p=0.50) or PC (p=0.35). However, the experimental group did have higher percentage correct across each of the creative insight areas (immediate insight, delayed insight and exploration). Both PC and PCI rose with increase in cheerfulness and decrease in bad mood and seriousness, though results were not statistically significant (CH p=0.75, BM p=0.23, SE p=0.80).
Figure 1: Percentage of CRA problems correctly solved plotted against groups
Additional findings. Group and demographic comparison were confounding. Participants with least education had highest PCI scores. Four out of 5 were in the control group, causing it to have higher scores than would be seen in normal population. While numbers are low, negative correlation between higher levels of education and problems solved by insight may be possible.
Lower positive mood group scores, and lack of significant change in the emotional scores, indicate the video did not have the desired effect. Subjective comments confirmed mixed emotional reactions.
Next Study
AcknowledgementsThis research was enabled by the Professional Development Foundation at Middlesex University in association with the Neuroleadership Institute. Sincere thanks to the volunteers who took part; Dan Radecki (research supervision and guidance); Rachel Tribbick (statistical analysis); Roxanne Mitchell (administration, data collation), Sophie Francis (poster).
Poster presented at the 2014 FENS Forum of Neuroscience, Milan, July
DiscussionWe found promising support for the novel hypothesis that brain training and attentional focus could increase creativity. People who took brain training solved more creative problems correctly than those who did not. We cannot yet conclude that we can teach people to use attentional focus to direct energy to brain areas that need to be activated or that we can deliberately manipulate our brains. Mixed emotional responses to videos and technical problems impacted results, so more research is needed.
This research was initially considered ‘odd’, yet provides glimmer of what could be possible. Ricard and Davidson (Lutz 2008) paved the way. We hope these studies lead to new ways to increase creativity and innovation in every day life and inspire more research into brain training and our ability to shape our output.
Research aim. Investigate the impact of brain training and attentional focus on creative insight over time.
• Provide training about attentional focus (mindfulness) and neuroscience to see if creative insight can be increased.
• Repeat the task after an 8 week period to assess within group changes following training.
Participants. 360 people have responded to invitation. Demographic details collected on application.
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Control group (N=44); Positive mood group (N=36); Experimental group (N=36). PCI median percentage 47, 33, 47 respectively. PC median percentage 57, 40, 64.
Percentage correct(PC)
Percentage correct through insight (PCI)
