Creativity is an innate human characteristic often shrouded in mystery. Some people assume it is an ability reserved for artists or inventors, but creative thinking is actually a function of the brain that all people can experience – and even enhance.
Defining Creativity
We use creativity to find solutions and express ourselves but, at its most basic, the definition of creativity is the ability to bring about novel ideas.
The Laboratory of Innovation at Harvard University further clarifies that the creative process is a cognitive one that involves both divergent and convergent thinking1. Divergent thinking means exploring many possible ideas (i.e. brainstorming) whereas convergent thinking is a process of sorting and refining multiple ideas to identify effective solutions.
You are being creative whether brainstorming in a classroom, problem-solving a crisis, or writing your next magnum opus.
The Neuroscience of Creativity
Several brain regions contribute significantly to the creative process and creative thinking:
- Prefrontal Cortex: Situated in the frontal lobe, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) serves as a central hub for executive functions, including problem-solving, decision-making, and cognitive flexibility2. It governs both divergent thinking and convergent thinking.
- Default Mode Network (DMN): The DMN encompasses a network of brain regions that become active when our attention is not directed toward a specific task, such as during daydreaming or mind-wandering 4. Studies suggest that the DMN plays a pivotal role in the generation of creative ideas 5. It enables the brain to forge novel connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, a hallmark of creative thinking 6. Importantly, the DMN not only initiates creative ideas but also collaborates with other brain regions to evaluate and refine those ideas 5. This highlights the dynamic interplay of different brain networks in the creative process.
- Hippocampus: While primarily recognized for its involvement in memory consolidation, the hippocampus also contributes to creativity by facilitating the retrieval and integration of past experiences and knowledge into the generation of new ideas 2.
- Basal Ganglia: The basal ganglia, located deep within the brain, play a crucial role in implicit learning and the automation of creative processes 7. This allows individuals to engage in creative activities more efficiently and effortlessly over time.
- White Matter: White matter consists of nerve fibers that connect different brain regions. It facilitates communication between the various areas involved in creativity, enabling the seamless integration of information and the generation of novel ideas 7.
- The Dopamine System: Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with reward, motivation, and pleasure, exerts a significant influence on creativity. Studies have demonstrated that dopamine can modulate mood, focus, and engagement in activities 8. Surprising or unexpected events trigger the release of dopamine, which can reduce cognitive inhibition and enhance the flow of creative ideas 8. Elevated dopamine levels have been linked to increased creativity, including the quantity, originality, and flexibility of ideas generated 8.
Wired for Creativity
Given what we know about the neuroscience of creativity, it is fair to say the human brain is wired for creativity, but the way it manifests and its intensity depends on an individual’s experiences, environment, and personal psychology including neurological traits and cognitive flexibility. Some people create via art. Others innovate through medicine or technology. In therapy, we call our clients to use creativity and creative thinking for personal development.
According to psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman, a leading researcher in the science of creativity, highly creative people are alike even if they express their creativity in very different ways: “The common strands that seemed to transcend all creative fields was an openness to one’s inner life, a preference for complexity and ambiguity, an unusually high tolerance for disorder and disarray, the ability to extract order from chaos, independence, unconventionality, and a willingness to take risks9.” So while creative people may be very diverse in their interests, creative tasks and expressions of creativity, they share the goal of bringing their ideas into focus in new ways.
It is true that some people have higher levels of original ideas, creativity and creative thinking than others, but why? Environment and experience are important factors in enhanced creativity. Whatever we are surrounded by in formative years feels “normal” to the human brain.
Two examples:
- The child who grows up in a household where music is played will be more likely to pick up an instrument themself.
- The adventurous adult was likely once a child who was consistently given the opportunity to wander and try new things outside of their normal daily routine.
Benefits of Creative Expression
No matter the means of expressing it, creativity is advantageous to individuals and societies. We create to solve problems. Therefore, creativity has driven progress and led to endless change throughout history. Here are some of the benefits of creative expression to individuals:
- Problem-solving
- Improved memory
- Curiosity about the world
- Desire to learn
- Reduced stress
- Boosting dopamine, the “feel good” neurotransmitter in the brain
- Communication and inquiry skills
- Understanding of self
- Taking new perspectives and increased empathy
- Efficiency with tasks
- Innovation and invention
- Distress tolerance
- Adaptability to change
How to Enhance Creativity
If you want to reap the benefits of enhancing your creativity – or that of those around you – try the following things:
- Play! Play music, play games, play hide and seek. Imagination is key for building neural networks.
- Improvise. Tell stories, make up jokes, dream up kitchen concoctions.
- Practice. Once you have established a means of creative expression, keep going. Practice your expression on a regular basis to enhance brain function and make it second nature.
- Daydreaming. Let your mind wander into creative thinking where it will generate ideas spontaneously.
- Put down the map. Skip the boring daily commute and try a new route on your next drive or walk.
- Brainstorm. When faced with a problem, jot down multiple possible solutions and then choose one.
- Get novel. Seek out new experiences to broaden what seems “normal” to you.
- Switch hands. Hold your tooth or hair brush with your non-dominant hand! Yes, this may seem simply odd, but it helps the brain flip into divergent thinking for a basic task – and it’s harder than you think.
Conclusion
Creativity is in all of us. Whether you are making groundbreaking medical discoveries or sharing your poetry with the world, your creative mind is valuable. Embrace new experiences and allow your mind the freedom to think beyond the obvious. Stay curious, everyone!
Blog written by Sentier therapist Sarah Souder Johnson, MEd, LPCC
Sources:
1. Creativity & Problem-Solving. lish.harvard.edu/creativity-problem-solving.
2. The Neurobiology of Creativity:. Decoding the Brain’s Symphony of… | by Ubaid Ghazali | Medium, https://medium.com/@ubaidghazali80/the-neurobiology-of-creativity-2691e3b10544
3. Frontal lobe neurology and the creative mind – PMC – PubMed Central, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4107958/
4. Study pinpoints origins of creativity in the brain – @theU – The University of Utah, https://attheu.utah.edu/health-medicine/study-pinpoints-origins-of-creativity-in-the-brain/
5. Creativity’s Neural Origin Revealed – Neuroscience News, https://neurosciencenews.com/creativity-dmn-neuroscience-26436/
6. Creativity, Mind-Wandering, and the Default Mode Network of the Brain -, https://thomasramsoy.com/index.php/2024/08/26/creativity-mind-wandering-and-the-default-mode-network-of-the-brain/
7. Connecting the Dots: Your Brain and Creativity – Frontiers for Young Minds, https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2017.00019
8. The Creative Brain – ASCD, https://ascd.org/el/articles/the-creative-brain
9. Barry, Scott, and Carolyn Gregoire. Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind. New York, Ny, Tarcherperigree, 2016.