Mind wandering during creative incubation predicts increases in creative performance in a writing task.
Scientific Reports July 9, 2025 Colin McDaniel, Assal Habibi, Jonas Kaplan 2 citations
Previous studies suggest that taking breaks from creative problem solving (i.e., incubation periods) enhances subsequent performance, possibly due to mind wandering during these breaks. The present preregistered study investigated whether different types of incubation periods, designed to either promote or suppress mind wandering, influence creativity in a writing task. Participants wrote two...