Researchers at the Paris Brain Institute, including Alizée Lopez-Persem and Emmanuelle Volle, have conducted a study shedding light on the factors influencing the speed and creativity of idea generation. Published in the American Psychologist, the study employs behavioural analysis and a computational model to dissect the components of the creative process, exploring how individual preferences impact the emergence and creativity of new ideas, as well as their subsequent communication.
The findings challenge conventional notions and provide insights into understanding creativity more comprehensively. The inquiry delves into what propels individuals to pursue novel concepts rather than adhering to conventional methods. Creativity hinges on intricate mechanisms that researchers are just beginning to comprehend, with motivation playing a pivotal role. However, motivation alone cannot explain why certain ideas are favoured over others, and how this choice influences the success of endeavours.
Lopez-Persem, a cognitive neuroscience researcher, defines creativity as the ability to generate original and relevant ideas within a given context, essential for adaptation and innovation. The research team’s objective was to explore the cognitive mechanisms underpinning the production of creative ideas and their strategic application.
The creative process is commonly divided into two phases: idea generation and evaluation. Yet, understanding the evaluation phase and the factors guiding idea selection remains a challenge. The researchers sought to uncover how value is attributed to ideas and whether individual characteristics influence this assignment. Lopez-Persem explains the role of valuing ideas in selecting the best ones.
However, she notes that this process isn’t always rational and objective, indicating that cognitive biases could impact decision-making. To unravel these dynamics, the researchers proposed a model consisting of three dimensions of creativity: exploration, evaluation, and selection. This model contrasts the popular perception of creativity as an impulsive force and instead frames it as a sequence of operations that can be mathematically modelled.
In the study, 71 participants engaged in free association tests, where they matched words in unconventional ways. They rated the novelty and relevance of these associations. The results highlighted the significance of subjective evaluation in creativity. The researchers found a correlation between the speed of idea generation and participants’ level of appreciation for those ideas. Essentially, the more an individual likes an idea, the quicker they conceive it.
Volle, a neurologist, elucidates that this assessment amalgamates two subjective criteria: originality and relevance. These criteria’s importance varies between individuals based on their experience, personality, and environment. Some prioritize originality, while others emphasize relevance. Interestingly, those inclined towards originality tend to suggest more inventive concepts.
The research team created a model predicting participants’ creative proposals’ speed and quality based on their preferences measured in a separate task. This reveals the mechanistic nature of creative impulses and the potential for in-depth understanding of creativity’s neurocomputational mechanisms and their correlation to neural substrates.
The study’s implications extend into various fields, including identifying different creativity profiles related to specific professions and exploring environments that foster or hinder creativity. It raises the possibility of modifying or re-educating one’s creative profile to align with personal ambitions or needs.
Lopez-Persem underscores the team’s commitment to addressing these questions and further unlocking the mysteries of creativity. The research underscores the role of individual preferences in shaping creative processes and provides a fresh perspective that moves beyond traditional notions of creative inspiration, shedding light on the intricate interplay between personal inclinations and innovative thought.
