Imagine you have a brick in front of you. How many different uses can you think of for it? You have just five seconds to respond, and you can list as many ideas as you like. This exercise is known as an alternative uses test, designed to evaluate creative thinking and how flexibly you can approach a task. Here are a few creative ideas people have come up with:
For centuries, the origins of creativity have puzzled us. Historically, creativity was thought to be a rare trait, found only in a select group of individuals like painters, poets, and musicians. It was considered a mysterious quality, beyond the grasp of scientific understanding. However, today we recognize that creativity is essential for problem-solving and is a fundamental aspect of human intelligence. Creativity is not limited to the arts; it is present in architecture, science, engineering, and even in the natural world.
In recent decades, numerous studies have explored creativity using brain imaging technology. Contrary to the old belief that creativity is confined to either the left or right hemisphere of the brain, research shows that creativity involves multiple brain regions. Even professional artists with damage to different brain areas continue to produce creative work. In fact, over forty different brain areas are likely involved in the creative process.
Interestingly, humans spend about 30% of their day engaged in “mind-wandering.” Many studies suggest that this mind-wandering can stimulate creativity. But how does this work? Some scientists propose that mind-wandering distracts us from perceived obstacles, allowing our subconscious to tackle problems without interference from our higher cognitive functions. It may also help the brain restructure how we perceive a problem, enabling us to make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts and come up with innovative solutions.
While everyone experiences mind-wandering, not everyone becomes a creative genius. Biology may play a role in this. Research has shown that families scoring high on musical aptitude and creativity tests often have an extra copy of a gene involved in serotonin release. This neurotransmitter enhances neural connections, increasing serotonin production and the brain’s ability to reuse it. Additionally, personality traits like risk-taking and openness to experience contribute to individual creativity.
However, creativity is not solely determined by biology; it can be cultivated and developed. Studies comparing professional dancers, artists, and musicians with novices in their fields reveal that professionals engage different brain areas during creative tasks. This suggests that creativity can be trained and honed through practice and experience.
Creativity is influenced by both biological and cultural factors. According to Barbot, Tan, and Grigorenko in “The Genetics of Creativity,” creativity should be viewed not only as an individual ability but also as a phenomenon shaped by culture and time. Cultural factors, such as how creative works are received, can influence our biological tendencies, like risk-taking. This dynamic relationship between nature and nurture plays a crucial role in creativity.
While some individuals may have slight biological advantages, anyone can nurture their creativity. By practicing your craft, approaching problems in unique ways, and allowing your mind to wander, you can enhance your creative abilities.
So, what could you do with this brick?
Challenge yourself to think of as many alternative uses for a common object, like a brick, within a set time limit. This exercise will help you practice flexible thinking and enhance your creative problem-solving skills. Share your ideas with classmates to see the diverse ways people approach the same task.
Dedicate time each day to let your mind wander and document your thoughts in a journal. Reflect on how this practice influences your creativity and problem-solving abilities. Discuss your experiences in a group to explore how mind-wandering can lead to innovative ideas.
Participate in a workshop where you collaborate with peers from different disciplines to solve a complex problem. This activity will help you understand how diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches can enhance creativity and lead to unique solutions.
Take a personality test to identify traits like openness and risk-taking that contribute to creativity. Analyze how these traits influence your creative process and discuss strategies to leverage them in your academic and personal projects.
Research how cultural factors shape creativity in different societies. Present your findings to the class, highlighting how cultural context can influence creative expression and innovation. This activity will deepen your understanding of the interplay between nature and nurture in creativity.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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So I need you to answer a question – you only have five seconds to respond, and you can have as many answers as you like… Ready? How many uses can you think of for this brick? This is an alternative uses test; they’re used to measure creative thinking and how flexible people are in approaching a task. Here’s one of the tests I prepared earlier…
“Yeah, you could make interesting cookie patterns, I guess?”
“You could use it like a domino in a Rube Goldberg machine.”
“You could put it in a tin can and make a rattle out of it.”
Where creativity comes from has mystified us for centuries. Throughout history, we believed that creativity was rare and seen in a small elite: professional painters, poets, performers, and musicians. For a long time, creativity was an enigma, beyond the reach of science. But today, we know that it takes creativity to solve problems; it’s an aspect of human intelligence. We find creativity in architecture, science, engineering, and even in nature. Creativity is everywhere!
In the past few decades, there have been dozens of studies exploring it using brain imaging technology. We’ve found you don’t just use the left or right hemisphere of your brain when you’re thinking creatively. There isn’t one single brain area or circuit for creativity – professional artists suffering from damage to different brain regions continue to produce art showing similar creativity. Over forty different areas of the brain are likely involved with creativity. I could list them all for you, but your mind might start to wander… Which might be a good thing!
Humans spend an average of 30% of our day engaged in “mind-wandering.” A lot of these studies say that mind wandering helps get our creativity flowing. But… why? How can we not pay attention and manage to hit on an idea that’s just right? Some scientists think that mind-wandering might distract you from your perceived obstacles or allow your subconscious to keep working on the problem without your higher cognitive functions getting involved. Mind wandering may also promote your brain’s ability to restructure the way you look at a problem; perhaps you’ll make connections between two seemingly unrelated things and come up with novel, creative solutions.
“Oh! You could melt it and then pour it into a mold and sculpt something else out of it!”
Okay, so everyone’s mind wanders. Then why aren’t we all creative geniuses? Well, our biology may play a part too: In one study, families who collectively scored higher on musical aptitude and creativity tests were more likely to have an extra copy of a specific gene involved in the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes neural connections. The extra copy increases the production of serotonin and the brain’s ability to reuse it. Researchers have also found that personality traits such as risk-taking and openness to experience contribute to creativity as an individual ability.
But creativity can also likely be trained, honed, or taught. In separate studies, professional dancers, artists, and musicians were all compared against novices in their fields. During active or mental improvisational sessions where participants were asked to compose a 5-note tune, mentally compose a drawing, or mentally perform a dance, those who were professionally creative actually thought about the task differently, engaging different areas of their brains than the novices.
And then, there’s a point where nature and nurture meet (which kind of happens all the time!). In “The Genetics of Creativity,” Barbot, Tan, and Grigorenko write, “it is important to see creativity not only as an individual ability, but also as a cultural and time-specific phenomenon that is biologically grounded and has a social purpose.” They suggest that cultural factors, like the reception of creative works, influence our biological factors, like how willing we are to take risks. And the two have a dynamic relationship.
Still, while some people may have small biological advantages to be more creative, anyone can be creative. You just need to nurture your creativity. Practice your craft, try approaching problems in unique ways, and let your mind wander.
So, what could you do with this brick?
“I love that neither of us have said anything that has to do with actually building with LEGOs.”
“Yeah! Maybe you could connect it to another LEGO brick and then make something that way.”
“You didn’t say we had many bricks! You just said we had one brick…”
“I know! Minimalist LEGO sculptures. Just one brick.”
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Creativity – The ability to generate novel and valuable ideas or solutions. – The professor encouraged students to harness their creativity to develop unique approaches to psychological research.
Psychology – The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context. – Understanding the principles of psychology can enhance one’s ability to foster creativity in various environments.
Mind-wandering – A state where attention shifts away from a primary task to unrelated thoughts and fantasies. – During the lecture, her mind-wandering led to an unexpected insight into her research project.
Biology – The scientific study of life and living organisms, often providing insights into the biological basis of behavior and mental processes. – Exploring the biology of the brain can reveal how neural mechanisms contribute to creative thinking.
Problem-solving – The process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues. – Effective problem-solving often requires a creative mindset to identify innovative solutions.
Intelligence – The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, often linked to creative problem-solving. – Her intelligence was evident in the creative ways she approached psychological experiments.
Personality – The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character, influencing their creative expression. – His outgoing personality made him more open to collaborative creative projects.
Culture – The shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group, which can influence creative expression and psychological perspectives. – The course examined how culture impacts creativity and the development of psychological theories.
Risk-taking – The willingness to engage in behaviors that involve uncertainty or potential loss, often associated with creative endeavors. – Her risk-taking attitude led to groundbreaking research in the field of cognitive psychology.
Innovation – The process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or satisfies a specific need. – The innovation lab at the university fosters creativity and collaboration among students from diverse disciplines.
