Creative Thinking Uses the Whole Brain!
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There’s something about being a creative person that influences your thought process. Everyone is creative in their own way, but for some it comes more easily because they embrace the creative process. The creative thought process is, well, different. The things a creative person does and the decisions they make are influenced by their train of thought.
In the 1960’s, psychologist and creativity researcher Frank X. Barron conducted a series of experiments on some of the most renowned thinkers of the time in an effort to understand the creative thought process. From his study, Barron concluded that intelligence plays a very modest role in creative thinking. He discovered that intellectual, emotional, motivational, and moral characteristics as a whole influenced creativity. Barron also found that common traits people across all creative fields had in common included an openness to one’s inner life, a high tolerance for disorder, a preference for complexity, the need for independence and a willingness to take risks.
Contrary to popular belief, the creative process draws on the whole brain. Yes, your right brain may be the more creative side and your left brain the analytical side, but they work together during the thought process. The whole brain’s default mode network is particularly important for creativity because it engages many regions of the medial surface of the brain in the frontal, parietal and temporal lobes. This region of the brain engages with the brain’s executive network, which is responsible for controlling our attention and memory. This helps one focus on their imagination and inner experience while performing daily activities. These brain functions come together as one to create an intricate thought process that separates creative individuals from the rest. Although everyone is different, some characteristics remain true for all creatives.
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They find inspiration everywhere. They never know when their next “big idea” will happen.
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Daydreaming is their biggest hobby. They can fly away with their thoughts at any given moment.
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When they fail they try and try again. It’s definitely not easy for a creative, especially in a professional career. Every creative has failed and been rejected but they continue to make it work.
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Where most people see a difficulty, they see an opportunity. Creatives tend to do well at problem solving and finding solutions to otherwise difficult situations.
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They are great observers. Paying attention to detail is an important characteristic of creative individuals because basically anything and everything can be inspiration for their next idea.
Embrace your creativity! See if there is room for you to step out even further from your comfort zone. Push yourself and let your whole brain wander for a bit. Creative thinking is an integral part of the work that we produce and we’re proud to work in a creative environment where everyone’s ideas are heard.
