6 Neuroscience Hacks to Spark New Ideas
KICKSTART YOUR BRAIN
Congratulations! You've finally managed to claw back some time in your calendar and are ready to tackle that challenge that's been nagging at you. You grab a drink, settle into your favorite ‘productivity corner’, open your laptop, and… nothing.
Scores of neuroscientists, psychologists, artists, and philosophers have spent their careers decoding how to tap into creativity.
We’ve distilled some of their findings into quick tricks to add into your routine to clear the creative cobwebs. Enjoy!
EMBRACE FEARLESS LISTENING
Active listening can lead to something called brainwave 'mirroring’. This phenomenon builds shared understanding and can lead to more creative outcomes (Stephens et al., 2010).
Try: Being The Last to Speak
Dig into the ‘why’ behind your teams’ contributions rather than jumping right into fixing or adding your two cents.
CULTIVATE A BEGINNER’S MINDSET
Acting as if you’re doing something for the first time can activate neural circuits that are less active when you routinely do an activity as an expert. This can unlock creativity as the brain is nudged into deviating from familiar pathways and exploring new ones (Dweck, 2006).
Try: A Fresh Take
Seek advice from someone who is naïve to your / your team’s challenge for a new perspective.
CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT & OBSERVE
Changing environments can stimulate the brain's release of dopamine, which is associated with motivation and learning. New sensory experiences can enhance neuroplasticity, leading to interesting connections and creative insights (Lerch et al., 2011).
Try: A New Thinkin’ Nook
Change your work environment – check out that park you’ve been eyeing but never visited and simply observe your new surroundings.
EXPERIMENT WITH CREATIVE CONSTRAINTS
Imposing constraints can activate a part of the brain called the lateral prefrontal cortex, enhancing creative problem-solving by focusing cognitive efforts and encouraging exploration within a defined scope (Stokes, 2005).
Try: Different Guardrails
Challenge your team to pitch an idea in 280 characters or less, sharpening the focus on simplicity and clearly articulating core value.
NURTURE CROSS-DISCIPLINARY CURIOSITY
Exposing yourself to different disciplines helps you think more flexibly and combine ideas in complex ways, supported by brain plasticity, which is the brain's ability to form new neural connections in response to novel stimuli (Beaty et al., 2016).
Try: Take Mini-Inspo Adventures
Organize ”Inspo Show & Tell" meetings where each person has 5-10 minutes to present a new topic they've learned about, unrelated to their field. E.g., a tech team member might learn about a new art discipline - encouraging exploration beyond one's usual focus.
ENGAGE IN STRUCTURED DIVERSIONS
Engaging in cognitively-stimulating distractions unrelated to your current challenge can reset your mind and promote 'incubation.’ During incubation, your subconscious mind continues processing the problem, potentially leading to innovative solutions upon your return to the task (Sio & Ormerod, 2009).
Try: Practicing a New Skill
Learn a new tool or any skill that isn’t in your repertoire – engineer short blocks during your work week to practice and help your brain subconsciously problem solve.
References:
Stephens, G. J., Silbert, L. J., & Hasson, U. (2010). Speaker–listener neural coupling underlies successful communication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(32), 14425-14430.
Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
Lerch, J. P., van der Kouwe, A. J., Raznahan, A., Paus, T., Johansen-Berg, H., Miller, K. L., ... & Sotiropoulos, S. N. (2011). Studying neuroanatomy using MRI. Nature Neuroscience, 14(4), 475-486.
Stokes, P. D. (2005). Creativity from constraints: The psychology of breakthrough. Springer Publishing Company.
Beaty, R. E., Nusbaum, E. C., & Silvia, P. J. (2016). Does insight problem solving predict real-world creativity? Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 10(2), 287-292.
Sio, U. N., & Ormerod, T. C. (2009). Does incubation enhance problem-solving? A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 135(1), 94-120.
