Problem Solving II: Processes of Creativity Flashcards
What is Creativity?
- Creating
- Originality
- Value
Process of Creative Problem Solving? (Bassaduret al., 2000)
Stage 1: Problem generation
Stage 2: Problem formulation
Stage 3: Problem solving
Stage 4: Solution implementation
Divergent thinking?
Open-ended thought that produces many alternatives
– Alternate uses task
Prior knowledge + exposure to other’s ideas
– But not too much
Smith et al., 1993
How does prior knowledge influence creativity?
- Ps asked to create + label new animals
IV: prior examples vs. no examples
all prior examples had tail, antennae, & 4 legs)
DV: number of features matching examples
Results?
Fixation on examples reduced creativity
Creativity in the Brain
Recall the Default Mode Network (DMN)
– Active when “doing nothing”
– Associated with mind wandering/daydreaming
Many great discoveries occurred during time-off from a problem
Incubation: sudden insight after taking time off
Baird et al. (2012) studied mind-wandering and creativity
- Ps did alternate uses task (AUT) (2 minutes)
- Then Ps had a 12 minute “incubation” time
IV:
– Hard task during incubation
– Easy task during incubation
DV: AUT after incubation
Results?
Results: easy task condition AUT increased 40%
DMN -> MW -> Creativity
Does the DMN Directly Facilitate Creativity?
- Mayselesset al. (2015) used modified AUT in fMRI scanner
- Ps asked to propose one novel use for object
DVs:
– originality of proposal
– DMN activity
Result?
Result: DMN activity correlates with originality
Role of Executive Control Network (ECN)
Ellamilet al. (2012) study
- Ps asked to generate ideas for a book cover in two stages:
1. Generate lots of ideas
2. Evaluate ideas to find the best ones
DV: DMN & ECN activity (fMRI scans)
Results?
- DMN and ECN both active during evaluation
- Functional connectivity during both stages
ECN is usually associated with non-creative processes like working memory, fluid intelligence, other cognitive tasks
Perhaps ECN is needed to disengage attention from bad ideas
Functional connectivity between DMN and ECN stronger in creative people
Brain Hacking for More Creativity?
Study used TDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) (Chi & Snyder, 2012)
Used 9-dot problem
Theory:
– Anterior temporal lobe (ATL) is involved in low-level pattern grouping
– 9-dot problem is hard because of grouping (all one box)
– If we deactivate ATL, think more outside the box?
Result?
Result: Ps more likely to come up with solution after TDCS
Insight vs. Analytic Solutions
Kournioset al. (2006) used EEG to study creative problem solving
Compound remote-associate task:
– Ps shown three words, E.g.: pine, crab, sauce
– Problem: find word that unites all three, E.g: pineapple, crabapple, applesauce
After each solution, participants asked if they had insight solution or analytic solution
Result?
– Frontal lobe activity increased before insight solutions (before problem even presented)
– Occipital lobe activity increased before analytic solutions (before problem even presented)
Results suggest that brain state before attempting problem influences type of solution
What Predicts Creativity?
Intelligence? Personality?
Intelligence?
– Complex relationship, minimum intelligence required but as intelligence goes up people get either more or less creative
Personality?
– Extraversion and Openness predict somewhat, but depends on type of creative task
How to Increase Creativity?
Scheduled mind-wandering
– Take a break/walk, attend to surroundings
Isolation
– Be alone while thinking
– Avoid distractions
– But feedback from others still important for evaluation!
Mindfulness (not just focused meditation)
– Open-monitoring meditation: attend to thoughts as they occur, follow through with them
– Promotes disinhibition
Produce lots!
– van Gogh made >2000 artworks, >850 oil paintings
Consume lots!
– Good musicians always listening
