Just Open Your Mind? A Randomized, Controlled Study on the Effects of Meditation on Creativity.

A two-week program of open monitoring meditation did not improve creativity in metaphor production or cognitive flexibility compared with an active control (listening to a narrative about house plants) or a passive control (no task). No significant differences emerged between groups on any measure, and no link was found between metaphor creativity and cognitive flexibility. The results highlight challenges in using meditation as a cognitive enhancement tool and point to methodological issues in meditation research and the measurement of creativity and cognitive flexibility.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Creativity is a crucial prerequisite for innovation, successful problem solving, and self-expression, but how do we affect creative thinking in a positive way? The present study investigated the effects of open monitoring meditation (OMM) on creativity. We proposed that OMM will benefit creativity in metaphor production by cognitive flexibility (CF) enhancement. In the main study, participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: meditation, active, and passive controls. The first two groups performed an audio-guided task (real meditation or a narrative on house plants) for 2 weeks, and the third one had no task. Pre- and post-tests included measures of metaphor production, CF, state, sustained attention, attention shifting, and intelligence. We found no significant intra- or intergroup differences that would suggest OMM effects on creativity. Further, no links were found between measures of metaphor creativity and CF. Findings reveal potential challenges of using meditation as a cognitive enhancement tool. Methodological issues concerning meditation research, as well as creativity and CF measures, are discussed.