Academician Natalya Petrovna Bekhtereva began work in this direction.
“There is no universally accepted definition of creativity, each researcher gives his own,” says a candidate for the neurophysiology of thinking and consciousness group. psychological sciences Maria Starchenko. “Most agree that creativity is a process when a person produces something new, can abandon stereotypical schemes in solving problems, give birth to original ideas and quickly resolve problem situations.”
One of the approaches to the study of creative activity consists in recording and analyzing the electrical activity of the brain - an electroencephalogram. It is mainly used by foreign researchers to solve this problem. But scientists at the Institute of the Human Brain of the Russian Academy of Sciences study creativity also by the method of positron emission tomography (PET).
Creativity with electrodes on the head or in a tomograph
“In the experiment, we give the subjects a test and control task,” says Maria Starchenko. - Test creative. For example, words are shown on the monitor, from which the subject must compose a story. Moreover, these are words from different semantic groups that are not related to each other in meaning. In the control task, the subject must compose a story from words related in meaning, or restore the text by changing the word order. "
An example of words for a creative task: "start, glass, want, roof, mountain, be silent, book, leave, sea, night, open, cow, throw, notice, disappear, mushroom." Example control words: "school, understand, task, learn, lesson, answer, receive, write, evaluate, ask, class, answer, question, solve, teacher, listen."
In an experiment to study non-verbal creativity, the subject receives other tasks. Creative - Draw an original painting from the given geometric shapes. Test - just draw geometric figures in no particular order.
The creative brain works faster ...
The electroencephalogram, which is recorded from the subject during the experiment, is subsequently analyzed. The analysis shows the difference in the electrical activity of different areas of the brain when performing creative and non-creative tasks. Scientists are interested in how rhythms increase or decrease different frequencies, as well as how the activity is synchronized in one or another frequency of the regions of the brain that are distant from each other.
The largest number of results indicate a connection with the creative activity of the rapid electrical activity of the cerebral cortex. This refers to the beta rhythm, especially the beta-2 rhythm with a frequency of 18-30 Hz, and the gamma rhythm (over 30 Hz). That is, when performing a creative task (as opposed to a non-creative one) in most areas of the brain, rapid activity increases.
The extent to which neural ensembles of distant brain regions can be involved in joint creative activity can be judged by analyzing the synchronization of electrical activity in these areas. In experiments with a creative task, spatial synchronization was enhanced in the anterior regions of the cortex within each hemisphere and between the hemispheres. But the synchronization of the anterior regions with the posterior ones, on the contrary, was weakened. It is possible that this weakened the excessive control of the creative process on the part of the frontal lobes.
And it requires more blood
The second method, positron emission tomography (PET), is based on the fact that a scanner registers gamma radiation that occurs during the positron beta decay of a short-lived radioisotope. In tissues, the positron reacts with an electron to form gamma quanta. In fact, this method monitors the rate of local cerebral blood flow.
Before examination, water labeled with radioactive isotope oxygen 15O. The PET scanner monitors the movement of an isotope with blood through the brain and thus estimates the rate of local cerebral blood flow. “The brain cells involved in a particular activity consume more oxygen and nutrients, therefore, the blood flow in this area increases, - explains Maria Starchenko. "By comparing the picture of the brain involved in creative activity with the picture of the brain when performing a control task, we get information about which areas of the brain are responsible for the creative process."
The whole brain is involved in creative activity to one degree or another. But scientists have managed to identify areas that, apparently, participate in this more than others. These are two fields in the parieto-occipital part.
The question arises, how different is the work of the brain in more and less creative individuals. But so far, Russian scientists have not explored this area. At this stage, they are interested in mechanisms and patterns common to all. To compare them in highly creative and low-creative individuals - this is the task they set for the future.
For a long time, it was believed that creativity is a gift, and insights arise as if by magic. But recent neuroscience research has shown that we can all get creative. It is enough to direct the brain in the right direction and exercise a little.
It's not just artists, poets and musicians who need creativity. He works in any field: he helps to solve problems, smooth out conflicts, impress colleagues and enjoy a fuller life. Neuroscientist Estanislao Bachrach in The Flexible Mind explains where ideas come from and how to teach the brain to think creatively.
Neural Lanterns
Let's imagine for a moment: we are on top floor skyscraper, in front of us is a night city. Lights are on in the windows here and there. Cars scurry along the streets, illuminating the path with headlights, lanterns flickering along the roads. Our brain is like a city in the dark, in which separate avenues, streets and houses are always illuminated. "Lanterns" are neural connections... Some "streets" (nerve pathways) are illuminated all along. This is data we know and proven solutions to problems.
Creativity lives where it is dark - on unbeaten paths, where unusual ideas and solutions await the traveler. If we need unbroken forms or ideas, if we yearn for inspiration or revelation, we will have to make an effort and light new "lights". In other words, to form new neural micronets.
How ideas are born
Creativity is fueled by ideas, and ideas are born in the brain.
Imagine that there are many boxes in the brain. Each incident in life is stored in one of them. Sometimes the boxes begin to open and close in a chaotic manner, and memories are randomly connected. The more relaxed we are, the more often they open and close, and the more memories shuffle. When this happens, we have more ideas than at other times. This is individual for everyone: for someone - in the shower, for others - while jogging, playing sports, driving a car, on the subway or bus, while playing games or swinging their daughter on a swing in the park. These are moments of clarity of mind.
Relax your brain to get ideas more often.
(a source:)
When the brain is relaxed, we have more thoughts. They may be ordinary, familiar, or seem unimportant, but sometimes ideas that we call creative seep into their ranks. The more ideas, the more chances that one of them will be non-standard.
In other words, ideas are a random combination of concepts, experiences, examples, thoughts, and stories that are arranged in boxes of smart memory. We are not inventing anything new. The novelty is how we combine the known. Suddenly these combinations of concepts collide and we “see” the idea. It dawned on us. The higher the level of mental clarity, the more opportunities for discovery. The less background noise in the head, the calmer we become, enjoying what we love, the more insights appear.
The strength of the environment
Innovative companies understand the importance of creating a creative environment. They place their employees in bright, airy, pleasant spaces.
In a relaxed environment, where the fire of the day is not required to extinguish, people become more inventive. In Argentina, Lionel Messi is the same man with the same brain as in Barcelona. But in Barcelona he is more productive: he can carry out 10-15 attacks per match, of which two or three end with a goal. At the same time, in the national team, he manages to carry out two or three attacks per game, therefore, there is less chance that they will be non-standard and lead to a goal. How he uses his skills and creativity is highly dependent on the setting, training atmosphere, team and well-being. Creativity is not some magic light that can be turned on anywhere, it is closely related to environment... It needs a stimulating environment.
Debunking some myths about the brain and creativity
V Lately literature and the Internet are filled with a variety of information about the creativity of a person and the work of his brain.
But, unfortunately, there are many misconceptions and myths that have not found sufficient scientific confirmation.
Here are some of them:
Development of creativity and brain.
It all depends on the formulation of the question, because the development of creativity and creativity training have completely different meanings.
Let me explain: with age develop creativity and the power of the brain becomes more and more difficult, you have to be content with what is laid down by nature and received during education in the first 20 years of life.
Nature, on the other hand, has practically limitless possibilities in a person - you need to learn how to use them.
The brain is a very capacious and elastic substance, so that it is in good shape all the time, you need to make it work constantly, and it will not let you down. Brain training can be treated the same as muscle training: if you train, you work, if you don't, you fade.
As for creativity, do not develop it, but do real creative work, because even in everyday life you can be creative. And for the brain to perform creative work more efficiently, give it the tools - creative methods and techniques.Creativity depends on the level of intelligence.
I will be brief - no, it does not depend, and sometimes too powerful intellect and an exorbitant store of knowledge can hinder flight of creative imagination.
However, one should not confuse intellect with erudition. A set of basic knowledge is often necessary for the correct formulation of a problem and its solution in specific conditions.Creativity is needed only for creative people.
Actually everyone needs creativity and in all areas of human activity, not only to artists, designers, not only in advertising.
For instance, creative business- in our time, the need of people for beautiful (creative) solutions has greatly increased.Workers' creativity is fueled by money and competition.
No, only to a small extent, and sometimes they interfere. A creative person is stimulated by the public recognition of his creative merits.The left and right hemispheres of the brain.
There is no absolutely accurate and reliable data that mental activity human is strictly distributed between the left and right halves of the brain.The human brain works only 10%.
This misconception has been around for almost a century. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, this is not the case.
The data of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain clearly demonstrate that most of the cerebral cortex is actively involved in whatever the person is doing.
This is why knowledge workers get very tired by the end of the day.
In addition, the brain consumes a lot of energy, getting hotter during sleep.Subconscious.
The most beautiful creative work myth brain.
It is convenient to use this term to describe the work of the brain that is not clearly felt, proceeding in parallel with the main thought or in a dream.
For myself, I call it parallel thinking , this is clearer to me and I feel it with intense creative work, when, it would seem, an interesting thought appears from nowhere (or even several) and moves next to the main one, and when they converge at one point, a creative idea is born.
The same applies to sleep: when you sleep, the brain continues to work, especially if it is "loaded" with a creative task solved during the day.A striking example of such literature is the book J. Kehoe "The subconscious mind can do everything"... The book will undoubtedly be informative for those who are interested in the creative work of the brain, but it will be difficult for an unprepared reader to distinguish where helpful information, and where the author's speculations.
Ultimately, it is up to you how to use this or that information. The main thing is that it would benefit you in your desire become creative human.
And don't forget about suggestion and self-hypnosis... If you convince yourself that different hemispheres of your brain perform different functions, and “the subconscious mind can do everything,” then it will be so.
A creative person is a person who is able to process information at hand in a new way - the usual data perceived by the senses, available to all of us. The writer needs words, the musician needs notes, the artist needs visuals, and they all need some knowledge. techniques your craft. But the creative person intuitively sees the possibilities for transforming ordinary data into a new creation that far surpasses the raw materials.
Creatives have noticed the difference between the process of collecting data and its creative transformation at all times. Recent discoveries in the field of brain function are beginning to shed light on this dual process as well. Getting to know how both sides of your brain work is an important step in unleashing your creativity.
This chapter will look at some of the new research on the human brain that has greatly expanded existing understanding of the nature of human consciousness. These new discoveries are directly applicable to the task of unleashing human creativity.
Acquaintance with the peculiarities of the work of both sides of the brain
Seen from above, the human brain is like two halves. walnut- two similar rounded halves dotted with convolutions, connected in the center. These two halves are called the left and right hemispheres. Nervous system the person is connected to the brain in a crossover manner. The left hemisphere controls right side body, and the right hemisphere - the left side. If, for example, you suffer a stroke or injury to the left side of the brain, the right side of your body is most severely affected, and vice versa. Because of this crossing nerve pathways the left hand is associated with the right hemisphere, and the right hand with the left hemisphere.
Double brain
The cerebral hemispheres of animals are generally similar, or symmetrical, in their functions. The human brain hemispheres, however, develop asymmetrically in terms of functioning. Most notable external manifestation asymmetry of the human brain is the great development of one (right or left) hand.
For a century and a half, scientists have known that speech function and the associated abilities in most people, about 98% of right-handers and two-thirds of left-handers, are located mainly in the left hemisphere. The knowledge that the left side of the brain is responsible for speech functions was mainly obtained from the analysis of the results of brain damage. It was evident, for example, that damage to the left side of the brain was more likely to cause loss of speech than equally severe damage to the right side.
Since speech and language are closely related to thinking, reason and higher mental functions that distinguish a person from a number of other living beings, scientists of the 19th century called the left hemisphere the main, or large, hemisphere, and the right hemisphere - the subordinate, or small. Until very recently, the prevailing general opinion was that the right half of the brain is less developed than the left - a kind of dumb twin, endowed with abilities lower level controlled and supported by the verbal left hemisphere.
For a long time, the attention of neurologists has been attracted, among other things, the functions of the thick nerve plexus, which consists of millions of fibers, which crossover connects the two hemispheres of the brain, which until very recently were unknown. This cable junction, called the corpus callosum, is shown in a schematic drawing of half of the
The journalist Maya Pines writes that theologians and others with an interest in the problem of the human personality follow with great interest scientific research functions of the cerebral hemispheres. As Pines notes, it becomes clear to them that “all paths lead to Dr. Roger Sperry, professor of psychobiology at California Institute of Technology who has the gift of making - or stimulating - important discoveries. ”
Maya Pines "Brain Switches"
Cross-section of the Lovebrain (Fig. 3-3). In view of big size, a huge number of nerve fibers and a strategic position as a connecting link of two hemispheres, the corpus callosum has all the signs of an important structure. But here's a mystery - the available evidence indicated that the corpus callosum could be completely removed without noticeable consequences. In a series of animal experiments conducted in the 1950s, mainly at California Institute of Technology by Roger W. Sperry and his students Ronald Myers, Colvin Trevarten and others, it was established that the main function of the corpus callosum is to provide communication between the two hemispheres and the implementation of the transfer of memory and acquired knowledge. In addition, it has been found that if this connecting cable is cut, both halves of the brain continue to function independently of each other, which partly explains the apparent lack of influence of such an operation on human behavior and brain function.
In the 1960s, similar studies began to be carried out on humans, patients of neurosurgical clinics, which provided Additional information regarding the functions of the corpus callosum and prompted scientists to postulate a revised view of the relative capabilities of both halves of the human brain: both hemispheres are involved in the higher cognitive activity each specializing in a complementary way in different ways of thinking, and both are eminently complex.
Since this new understanding of how the brain works is important for education in general, and for learning to draw in particular, I will briefly talk about some of the studies, often referred to as “split brain studies”. For the most part these experiments were carried out at Caltech Sperry and his students Michael Ganzaniga, Jerry Levy, Colvin Trevarten, Robert Heaven and others.
Research 6 focused on a small group of patients who underwent commissurotomy, or, as they were called, patients with "split brain". These people in the past have suffered tremendously from epileptic seizures involving both hemispheres of the brain. The last remedy used after all other measures had proved ineffective was an operation that eliminated the spread of seizures to both hemispheres, performed by Phillip Vogel and Joseph Bohep, who cut the corpus callosum and associated adhesions, thereby isolating one hemisphere from the other. The operation brought the desired result: it became possible to control the seizures, the health of the patients was restored. Despite the radical nature surgical intervention, appearance of patients, their behavior and coordination of movements were practically not affected, and upon a superficial examination, their daily behavior did not appear to have undergone any significant changes.
A group of scientists from the California Institute of Technology subsequently worked with these patients and, in a series of ingenious and skillfully conducted experiments, discovered that the two hemispheres have various functions... The experiments revealed a new surprising feature, which consisted in the fact that each hemisphere perceives, in a sense, its own reality, or, better to say, each perceives reality in its own way. Both in people with healthy brains and in patients with split brains, the verbal - left - half of the brain dominates most of the time. However, using intricate procedures and performing a series of tests, scientists at the California Institute of Technology found evidence that the dumb right side of the brain also works on its own.
“Main question What comes to the surface is that there seem to be two modes of thought, verbal and non-verbal, represented separately by the left and right hemispheres, respectively, and that our educational system, like science in general, tends to neglect the non-verbal form of intelligence. It turns out that modern society discriminates against the right hemisphere. ”
Roger W. Sperry
“Lateral specialization of cerebral functions
Surgically separated hemispheres ”,
“The data indicate that the mute small hemisphere specializes in gestalt perception, being primarily a synthesizer for incoming information. The verbal 6th cerebral hemisphere, on the other hand, seems to work predominantly in a logical, analytical mode, like a computer. His language is not adequate to the rapid and complex synthesis carried out by the small hemisphere ”.
Jerry Levy, R. W. Sperry, 1968
Gradually, on the basis of numerous scientific evidence, the idea was formed according to which both hemispheres use cognitive modes. high level which, although different, involve thinking, reasoning, and complex mental activity. In the decades since the first report by Levy and Sperry in 1968, scientists have found a lot of evidence to support this point of view, and not only in the example of patients with brain injury but also when examining people with normal, intact brains.
Eats information, experiences and emotionally reacts to it. If the corpus callosum is not damaged, the connection between the hemispheres combines or harmonizes both types of acceptance, thereby preserving the feeling of a person that he is one person, one being.
In addition to studying internal mental experiences, surgically divided into left and right sides, the scientists investigated the different modes in which the two hemispheres process information. Accumulated evidence suggests that the left hemisphere mode is verbal and analytical, while the right hemisphere mode is non-verbal and complex. New evidence found by Jerry Levy in her doctoral dissertation shows that the processing used by the right hemisphere is fast, complex, holistic, spatial, perceptual, and quite comparable in complexity to the verbal-analytical mode of the left hemisphere. , Levy found indications that the two processing modes tend to interfere with each other, making it impossible to achieve maximum performance, suggested that this could explain the evolutionary development of asymmetry in human brain- as a means of breeding two different ways processing information on two different hemispheres.
Several examples of tests specially designed for patients with split brains can illustrate the phenomenon of perception by each hemisphere of a separate reality and the use of special modes of information processing. In one experiment, two different pictures were displayed on the screen for an instant, with the eyes of a patient with a split brain fixed at the midpoint so that it was impossible to see both images with one eye. At the same time, the hemispheres perceived different pictures. The image of the spoon, located on the left side of the screen, entered the right half of the brain, and the image of the knife in right side the screen - to the verbal left half of the brain. When the patient was asked, he gave different answers. If he was asked to name what was displayed on the screen, the left hemisphere confidently expressing his thoughts forced the patient to say “knife”. Then the patient was asked to reach behind the curtain left hand(right hemisphere) and choose what was highlighted on the screen. Then the patient from a group of objects, among which were a spoon and a knife, chose a spoon. If the experimenter asked the patient to name what he was holding in his hand behind the curtain, the patient was momentarily lost and then answered “knife”.
We now know that the two hemispheres can work with each other in different ways. Sometimes they cooperate, and each part brings its own special abilities into the common cause and deals with that part of the task that is most suitable for its information processing mode. In other cases, the hemispheres can work separately - one half of the brain is “on”, and the other is more or less “off”. In addition, the hemispheres seem to be in conflict with each other as well - one half is trying to do what the other half considers to be their fiefdom. On top of that, it's entirely possible that each hemisphere can hide knowledge from the other hemisphere. It may turn out that, as the saying goes, the right hand does not really know what the left is doing.
Right hemisphere knowing that the answer was wrong, but not having enough words to correct the left hemisphere clearly expressing its thoughts, continued the dialogue, forcing the patient to silently shake his head. And then the verbal left hemisphere asked out loud: "Why am I shaking my head?"
In another experiment, which showed that the right hemisphere performed better at solving spatial problems, a male patient was given several wooden molds to place them according to a certain pattern. His attempts to do this with his right hand (left hemisphere) invariably failed. The right hemisphere tried to help. The right hand pushed away the left, so the man had to sit on his left hand to keep it away from the puzzle. When scientists suggested that he use both hands, the already spatially “smart” left hand had to push back the spatially “dull” right hand so that it would not interfere.
Thanks to these extraordinary discoveries over the past fifteen years, we now know that, despite our usual sense of the oneness and wholeness of the person - a single being - our brains are bifurcated, with each half having its own in my own way knowledge, their special perception of the surrounding reality. Figuratively speaking, each of us has two minds, two consciousnesses, which communicate and cooperate through a connecting "cable" of nerve fibers stretching between the hemispheres.
Ecology of Life: Creative thinking can be trained like muscles in a gym. Try it and you will be surprised how creative your brain can be ...
Neuroscientist Estanislao Bachrach in The Flexible Mind explains where ideas come from and how to teach the brain to think creatively
For a long time, it was believed that creativity is a gift, and insights arise as if by magic. But recent research in neuroscience has shown: we can all get creative... It is enough to direct the brain in the right direction and exercise a little.
It's not just artists, poets and musicians who need creativity. He works in any field: he helps to solve problems, smooth out conflicts, impress colleagues and enjoy a fuller life.
Neural Lanterns
Let's imagine for a moment: we are on the top floor of a skyscraper, in front of us is a night city. Lights are on in the windows here and there. Cars scurry along the streets, illuminating the path with headlights, lanterns flickering along the roads. Our brain is like a city in the dark, in which separate avenues, streets and houses are always illuminated. Lanterns are neural connections. Some "streets" (nerve pathways) are illuminated all along. This is data we know and proven solutions to problems.
Creativity lives where it is dark - on unbeaten paths, where unusual ideas and solutions await the traveler. If we need unbroken forms or ideas, if we yearn for inspiration or revelation, we will have to make an effort and light new "lights". In other words, to form new neural micronets.
How ideas are born
Creativity is fueled by ideas, and ideas are born in the brain.
Imagine that there are many boxes in the brain. Each incident in life is stored in one of them. Sometimes the boxes begin to open and close in a chaotic manner, and memories are randomly connected. The more relaxed we are, the more often they open and close, and the more memories shuffle. When this happens, we have more ideas than at other times. This is individual for everyone: for someone - in the shower, for others - while jogging, playing sports, driving a car, on the subway or bus, while playing games or swinging their daughter on a swing in the park. These are moments of clarity of mind.
When the brain is relaxed, we have more thoughts. They may be ordinary, familiar, or seem unimportant, but sometimes ideas that we call creative seep into their ranks. The more ideas, the more chances that one of them will be non-standard.
In other words, ideas are a random combination of concepts, experiences, examples, thoughts, and stories that are arranged in boxes of smart memory. We are not inventing anything new. The novelty is how we combine the known. Suddenly these combinations of concepts collide and we “see” the idea. It dawned on us. The higher the level of mental clarity, the more opportunities for discovery. The less background noise in the head, the calmer we become, enjoying what we love, the more insights appear.
The strength of the environment
Innovative companies understand the importance of creating a creative environment. They place their employees in bright, airy, pleasant spaces.
In a relaxed environment, where the fire of the day is not required to extinguish, people become more inventive. In Argentina, Lionel Messi is the same man with the same brain as in Barcelona. But in Barcelona he is more productive: he can carry out 10-15 attacks per match, of which two or three end with a goal. At the same time, in the national team, he manages to carry out two or three attacks per game, therefore, there is less chance that they will be non-standard and lead to a goal. How he uses his skills and creativity is highly dependent on the setting, training atmosphere, team and well-being.
Creativity is not some magic light that can be turned on anywhere, it is closely related to the environment. It needs a stimulating environment.
Dead ends and insights
The creative block is known in neuroscience as a dead end. This is a situation when the mind works on a conscious level (moves along the illuminated avenue and cannot turn). This is the connection you want to make but can't: it happens when you try to remember the name of an old friend, come up with a name for a newborn baby, or just don't know what to write about a project.
We all sometimes bump into these blocks. When creativity is needed, it is very important to overcome or avoid it.
To overcome the block and allow inspiration to come, you need to drown out the activity of the prefrontal cerebral cortex, which is responsible for lucid thoughts.
When stumped, do the opposite of what your intuition tells you — don't try to focus on the problem for a long time. We need to do something completely different, interesting, entertaining. This The best way evoke inspiration. When you take a break from the problem, active and conscious forms of thinking subside, and you give the floor to the subconscious. Distant boxes begin to open and close, splashing out ideas, and these ideas combine into new concepts in the anterior part of the right temporal lobe.
Association game
Creativity in any field - art, science, technology and even Everyday life- presupposes the ability of the mind to mix very different concepts and topics.
When a problem arises in front of you, try to consider it from different angles. How would a five-year-old look at her? What would a primitive woman think? What would your great-grandfather say? How would you solve it while in Africa?
Different associative thinking techniques ... For example, we need to improve the system of bank deposits. What is the essence of the contribution? Let's say this is "safe saving money for the future." What is storage related? Squirrels hide food for the winter, valets keep an eye on the cars of restaurant guests, goods are stored in port containers, planes are in hangars ...
Let's try to connect these phenomena in search of new ideas for improving the system of bank deposits. For example, in winter (by association with a squirrel), a bank may pay higher interest to encourage people to make deposits more often during the cold season.
The brain is characterized by neuroplasticity - the ability to change its own neural structure. The more creative tasks you solve, the more new connections are formed, the broader the picture of interneural interactions (more illuminated streets you can walk along).
So that creative thinking can be trained like muscles in the gym... Try it and you will be amazed at how creative your brain can be.published by
If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to the specialists and readers of our project .
P.S. And remember, just by changing your consciousness - together we are changing the world! © econet
