A new neuroimaging research study from Drexel Universitys Creativity Research Lab is the very first to expose how the brain gets to the innovative flow state.The research study separated flow-related brain activity throughout an imaginative task: jazz improvisation. The findings expose the innovative circulation state involves 2 crucial factors: comprehensive experience, which leads to a network of brain locations specialized for generating the desired type of ideas, plus the release of control– “letting go”– to allow this network to work with little or no conscious supervision.Led by John Kounios, Ph.D., professor in the College of Arts and Sciences and Creativity Research Lab director, and David Rosen, Ph.D., a recent graduate from the College and Johns Hopkins University postdoc– the team determined their outcomes recommend that imaginative flow can be achieved by training people to launch control when they have actually constructed up sufficient expertise in a particular domain.Inner views of the left and ideal sides of the brain revealing locations of decreased brain activity when the high-experience artists were in a high-flow state (compared to a low-flow state).” Kounios kept in mind that although flow has actually long been a subject of public fascination as well as the focus of hundreds of behavioral research study studies, there has actually been no agreement about what flow is. Their brand-new research study decided in between various theories of how flow is involved when individuals produce innovative ideas.Theory: Is Flow a State of Hyperfocus?One view is that flow might be a state of highly focused concentration or hyperfocus that shuts out other distractions and extraneous ideas to enable remarkable performance on a task.A related theory based on recent research on the neuroscience of creativity is that circulation takes place when the brains “default-mode network,” a collection of brain areas that work together when a person daydreams or introspects, produces concepts under the guidance of the “executive control network” in the brains frontal lobes, which directs the kinds of ideas the default-mode network produces. Credit: Image offered by John Kounios, PhD, of Drexel UniversityAlternative Theory: Flow is Expertise Plus Letting GoAn alternative theory of creative circulation is that through years of extreme practice, the brain establishes a customized network or circuit to automatically produce a particular type of ideas, in this case, musical ones, with little mindful effort.
The findings reveal the innovative flow state involves two key aspects: extensive experience, which leads to a network of brain areas specialized for producing the preferred type of ideas, plus the release of control– “letting go”– to enable this network to work with little or no mindful supervision.Led by John Kounios, Ph.D., professor in the College of Arts and Sciences and Creativity Research Lab director, and David Rosen, Ph.D., a recent graduate from the College and Johns Hopkins University postdoc– the group identified their results recommend that innovative circulation can be accomplished by training individuals to release control when they have actually constructed up sufficient proficiency in a specific domain.Inner views of the ideal and left sides of the brain revealing areas of reduced brain activity when the high-experience artists were in a high-flow state (compared to a low-flow state). Their new study decided between different theories of how circulation is included when people produce imaginative ideas.Theory: Is Flow a State of Hyperfocus?One view is that flow may be a state of extremely focused concentration or hyperfocus that shuts out other interruptions and extraneous thoughts to allow superior performance on a task.A related theory based on current research on the neuroscience of imagination is that flow takes place when the brains “default-mode network,” a collection of brain areas that work together when an individual visions or introspects, creates ideas under the supervision of the “executive control network” in the brains frontal lobes, which directs the kinds of concepts the default-mode network produces. Credit: Image supplied by John Kounios, PhD, of Drexel UniversityAlternative Theory: Flow is Expertise Plus Letting GoAn alternative theory of creative flow is that through years of extreme practice, the brain establishes a customized network or circuit to immediately produce a particular type of ideas, in this case, musical ones, with little mindful effort.