Altered states of consciousness and creativity
Luisa Prochazkova, Bernhard Hommel
2020 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816400-6.00006-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Key findings | Factors inducing altered states of consciousness bias metacontrol toward persistence or flexibility, influencing convergent and divergent thinking respectively. |
Abstract
Abstract Increasing evidence suggests that altered states of consciousness (ASC) are associated with both positive and negative effects on components of creative performance, and convergent and divergent thinking in particular. We provide a metacontrol framework that allows characterizing factors that induce ASC in terms of their general impact on the information processing style of problem solvers. We discuss behavioral and neuronal findings from three areas that reflect strong connections between ASC and the underlying effects on metacontrol on the one hand and components of creativity on the other hand: drug-induced ASC, meditation-induced ASC, and hallucinations. While more, and especially more systematic research is needed, we identify a general trend, suggesting that factors that induce ASC are likely to alter the metacontrol state by biasing it toward either persistence, which is beneficial for convergent thinking and other persistence-heavy operations, or flexibility, which is beneficial for divergent thinking and other flexibility-heavy operations.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. | 2020 | Review | |
| Psychobiology of Altered States of Consciousness. | 2005 | Review | |
| Intrinsic Brain Activity in Altered States of Consciousness | 2008 | Review | |
| Dynamic functional connectivity and brain metastability during altered states of consciousness | 2017 | Review | |
| A default mode of brain function in altered states of consciousness. | 2013 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 14
- Psychedelics as potential catalysts of scientific creativity and insight Drug Science, Policy and Law 2022
- Psychedelic Experience October 26, 2023
- Educating Through Attentional States of Consciousness, an Effective Way to Develop Creative Potential? Frontiers in Education March 17, 2022
- Multimodal creativity assessments following acute and sustained microdosing of lysergic acid diethylamide. Psychopharmacology February 1, 2025
- Psychedelics for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Narrative Review with Candidate Mechanisms of Action. CNS Drugs July 10, 2025
and 9 more in the library
Cites 50
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and 45 more in the library