Science of Creativity Recap
Eight posts covering research on the science of creativity.
Below you’ll find posts from the first two weeks of the Science of Creativity newsletter. I’ve had a blast writing it and look forward to sharing more!—Annie
“In dream states, we seem to be able to link things together that we normally wouldn’t connect,” says neuroscientist and artist Paul Seli. “It’s like there’s an artist in my brain that I get to know through hypnagogia.”
“Think about cultivating these two mutually-enhancing drives: a high need for certainty (I really want to figure this out!), and a low need for competence (I’m OK with feeling kind of incompetent and not-masterful in the process of figuring this out).”
“Researchers have identified five common beliefs that may be preventing many of us from being as creative as we could be.”
“Task switching benefits creativity because it reduces cognitive fixation. Setting the task aside for a time helps break the hold of our fixation, and allows us to return to the task with fresh eyes and a fresh mind.”
“Reminding ourselves of our core values—values that feel so integral to our sense of self—can help move us away from the feeling that our creative work is an imposition or an obligation.”
“The science of emotional creativity suggests that we can bring our already-existing strengths as creative people to our emotions, thus enabling more creativity—a virtuous cycle.”
"Excellencism is a tendency to aim and strive toward high, yet attainable standards, in an effortful and flexible manner.”
“Like Marcel Proust and his memory-evoking madeleine, you may find that remembering the past is a doorway into a richly imagined act of creation in the present.”
I've enjoyed reading these too!