of being “left-brained” or “right-brained.” Other early studies looked for differences in the size of specific brain regions and how regions with increased size might play more of a role in creativity. But the idea that something as subjective and poorly defined as creativity could be localized to one brain region is misguided. It’s more likely that an orchestration of large neural networks spanning several brain regions are involved in producing creativity. Recent studies have found that creativity is more strongly linked with personality traits such as openness to experience and emotional intelligence than with particular brain areas. According to a comprehensive review on creativity research, numerous studies have “demonstrated that openness of experience robustly predicted individual creative thinking and creative achievement”. In fact, openness to experience seems to be the most important predictor of creativity. Despite all of this, critics argue that research on creativity up until this point is inherently flawed because it can’t be reliably measured or defined, and thus meaningful conclusions cannot be drawn from the data. Where does that leave us? Do creative people truly have different brains than non-creative people? Researchers studying creativity are now pointing to the concept of “creative potential.” This shifts the conversation from creativity as something that is genetic or fixed to something that can be developed as one would develop skills for anything from a sport to an instrument. One recent study on creativity asserts, “Creative potential exists in everyone, and individual differences are reflected in a matter of degree of high or low creative potential, rather than all-or-nothing creative potential. Creative potential is not exclusive to geniuses or scientists. Everyone has creative potential”.
"Research reveals that REM sleep, or the state of sleep in which most dreaming occurs, seems to increase creative problem solving."
How to train your creativity? What are some safe ways to strengthen creative ability that don’t involve brain damage? One of the safest ways to foster creativity also happens to be the easiest: go to sleep. Research reveals that REM sleep, or the state of sleep in which most dreaming occurs, seems to increase creative problem solving. “Creative thought relies on the reorganization of existing knowledge,” one study explains. “ T h e h i g h e x c i t a t i o n , p l a s t i c i t y, a n d connectivity of REM sleep provide an ideal setting for the formation of novel, unexpected, connections” between neurons in the brain. To harness the power of your dreams, Balder Onarheim, founder of the Copenhagen Institute of NeuroCreativity, recommends actively thinking of the problem you’re trying to solve right before going to sleep. Some people also tout that keeping a dream journal nearby can aid in the development of more creative ideas. In addition to dreaming, walking also seems to aid creativity. A study conducted at Stanford University found that a short walk on a treadmill resulted in a significant boost in creative thinking.
"The embers of creativity reside within all of us and can be ignited with continued practice." Finally, since openness is so crucial to being creative, this may be an area of improvement on which to focus. Our brains are extremely flexible in that they are constantly reorganizing and adapting to new input, thus becoming more open to new experiences is something that can more or less be learned like anything else. While we may never fully track down the phenomenon of how creativity is produced in the brain, we’ve learned that creative ability is not reserved exclusively for artists and savants, and it’s not something that one is born with or without. The embers of creativity reside within all of us and can be ignited with continued practice.
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