Every time I’m giving a public lecture on the science of creativity and there may be an open Query & Reply spherical, one of the vital frequent questions I get is:
Does taking XXX allow you to be extra inventive?
Now, generally the substance listed is quite common, like alcohol.
Typically it’s unlawful in some areas, resembling sure mushy and onerous medication.
And generally it’s for one thing I’ve by no means even heard of.
In these circumstances, I’m unable to offer any clear reply.
However in lots of different circumstances, the excellent news is that there’s really scientific analysis into the results of sure substances on creativity.
I’ll undergo 4 particularly right this moment: Caffeine, Alcohol, Marijuana and Psilocybin (one of many lively compounds in magic mushrooms).
Caffeine
If there may be one drink which is commonly most intently related to creativity, it’s espresso.
In spite of everything, should you wished to search for examples of well-known creatives who drank ungodly quantities of espresso, you could possibly take inspiration from Beethoven (who was meticulous about having 60 beans per cup), and Voltaire (who allegedly drank between 40-50 cups per day).
Simply watch out you don’t undergo from affirmation bias, as a result of espresso doesn’t essentially enhance all elements of the inventive course of.
A research in 2020 examined the affect of caffeine on downside fixing and divergent considering efficiency. The outcomes prompt that caffeine can enhance efficiency in downside fixing, however not in divergent considering.
This means that caffeine could assist inventive work which is within the convergent considering part, when you must concentrate on enhancing, however not essentially on the divergent part, while you want a wide range of new concepts. This might additionally assist clarify why so most of the well-known espresso ingesting creatives did work which requires a considerable amount of centered enhancing, like composers and writers.
Caffeine might also hinder your creativity not directly by considerably impacting the standard and amount of sleep you’ll be able to get.
So in case you are in search of your subsequent breakthrough concept, perhaps put that subsequent cup down.
Alcohol
If espresso is what you drink while you need to be productive, how about essentially the most well-known drink for while you need to celebration? Sure, what’s the affect of alcohol on creativity?
In spite of everything, many people have skilled the sensation of getting a “nice concept” after we are drunk.
However how good are these concepts really? Are they extra inventive, or will we simply assume they’re as a result of we’re drunk on the time?
With alcohol, the affect on inventive efficiency seems to be delicate to how drunk the particular person is.
If you’re fully drunk, you would possibly assume your concept for a enterprise the place “folks can purchase pets in addition to grilled cheese sandwiches” will make you a billionaire, as a result of your judgement isn’t clear in that second. However different folks will see the thought for what it’s: horrible.
However with reasonable consumption of alcohol, scientists have clearer impacts on precise inventive efficiency. And by reasonable quantities of alcohol, scientists usually discuss in regards to the impact of a single drink, bringing your BAC to 0.03.
The outcomes, like numerous cocktails, are combined.
In a single research from 2017, small quantities of alcohol helped individuals resolve an Distant Associates Take a look at perception downside, however had no impact on their divergent considering, and impaired their government management (with the ability to concentrate on a process). A 2012 research additionally confirmed improved efficiency of alcohol on the power to resolve RAT challenges.
In one other research from 2010, alcohol resulted in folks being much less versatile of their considering, however barely extra authentic within the concepts they got here up with.
A overview of analysis in 2011 discovered a number of examples of alcohol making the individuals extra authentic, much less versatile, and in addition worse at getting ready for inventive work and verifying the standard of the concepts which the particular person had generated themselves.
So alcohol could assist folks overcomes the inhibition which elements of the mind placed on us throughout the incubation stage, however then makes the remainder of the inventive course of harder.
The occasional drink received’t kill you. Nevertheless it received’t make you a genius both.
Marijuana / Hashish
After turning into legalised in lots of nations and states lately, extra analysis now exists on the hyperlink between marijuana and creativity.
It is named a calming drug, and due to this fact folks usually assume it ought to have the ability to open their thoughts and result in extra concepts.
Nevertheless, right here the dangerous information begins.
Analysis exhibits a detrimental correlation between hashish and artistic efficiency.
A research from 1978 confirmed no enchancment in divergent considering scores after individuals has taken hashish.
Different research from 2010 and 2015 discovered that hashish use really impaired divergent considering efficiency.
So if you wish to be inventive, as an alternative of passing that dutchie on the left hand facet, it might appear to be higher to move on it altogether.
Psilocybin/ magic mushrooms
Lastly, what a few drug which is really related to seeing new issues? Psilocybin is the compound in magic mushrooms which might result in hallucinations, nevertheless it additionally has an extended historical past of being studied within the lab.
And apparently, one of many main impacts it could have is making somebody open to new concepts.
It is because analysis means that psilocybin utilization could end in folks being much less inhibited, and considerably extra open to new experiences. As a part of the Large 5 Character Traits, one of many solely scientifically accepted methods of assessing and measuring personalities, Openness to Expertise is considerably correlated with inventive efficiency.
Utilization of even microdosage quantities of psilocybin has been proven to enhance inventive efficiency.
A 2021 research indicated that whereas psilocybin utilization could lower efficiency on some divergent considering facets whereas the particular person was in a hallucination state, 7 days after the therapy, and with none additional psilocybin of their system, their creativity scores had been larger than earlier than. This means a extra long-term enchancment to creativity after a single therapy.
Much more fascinatingly, a 2011 research indicated that after a single psilocybin therapy, a full 1 12 months later, individuals had been nonetheless extra open to new experiences that earlier than the therapy.
Someway, it might appear that psilocybin does one thing to take away inhibitions within the mind and make folks extra open to new experiences in the long run.
I’m not saying it is best to run out and purchase some magic mushrooms, however the analysis seems to be very promising.
Creativity & Innovation knowledgeable: I assist people and corporations construct their creativity and innovation capabilities, so you may develop the following breakthrough concept which prospects love. Chief Editor of Ideatovalue.com and Founder / CEO of Improvides Innovation Consulting. Coach / Speaker / Writer / TEDx Speaker / Voted as one of the vital influential innovation bloggers.
