A recent research has revealed that electrical stimulation to the brain might be helpful in enhancing creativity in a person. The study has been conducted by a group of scientists at the Georgetown University.
According to Georgetown University, the research team used "Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation" (tDCS) to the area of the brain known to be linked with creativity. The test subjects were given verbal cues to think in a more creative way during the research. The area of the brain is known as "Frontopolar cortex" and is connected with creativity in human.
The researchers say that it was seen that the "ramping up" activity in the frontopolar cortex appeared to induce a natural boost in creative thinking. The usage of tDCS targeting frontopolar cortex in two different tasks of creativity allowed the test subjects to develop more creative analogical connections between sets of words, generating more creative associations in between them.
According to Pacific Standard, both the set of tasks were measured by "semantic distance"- a calculation involving the depth of creativity the subjects' minds could wander for finding the right answer. In the first test, the total semantic distance of the valid analogies formed was more in those who received the tDCS than those who did not. In the second one, the verbal cue helped the people with brain stimulation to perform better than those who did not.
The researchers say that it is the combination of internal efforts and external stimulation in the case of the subjects, that results in creative conclusions. However, they also support the fact that along with artificial stimulation, a creative thought process is required for producing creative results. A focused effort is required for producing better creative results, the researchers believe.
The findings of the study suggest that giving individuals an electric stimulation can enhance the brain's natural thinking cap into creative works. The researchers also believe that in the future, doctors can use the technique to help people with brain disorders.
