Creativity isn’t just for artists, writers, and musicians. It fuels everything from groundbreaking inventions to innovative problem-solving in everyday life. But what exactly makes someone creative? Can creativity be measured? And more importantly—can it be enhanced?
Turns out, psychologists and neuroscientists have been deep-diving into the science of creativity, uncovering how the brain generates novel ideas and how we can train ourselves to be more creative. Let’s break it all down.
1. So, What Actually Makes Something Creative?
Okay, so we know creativity is about coming up with ideas that are both original and useful—but let’s be real, that definition feels a little…incomplete. I mean, how do we define “useful” in a world where people spend hours watching paint get mixed on TikTok or listening to a song with no lyrics?
That’s why psychologists have been debating for years what actually counts as creativity. Sure, inventing a new medical device is obviously useful. But what about a surreal painting? A stand-up comedy routine? A viral dance trend? The usefulness of creativity isn’t always about solving a problem in a practical sense—it can be about evoking emotion, sparking a conversation, or making people see the world differently.
And that’s where authenticity comes in. Mark Runco argues that true creativity isn’t just about making something new—it’s about making something genuinely you. That means expressing ideas, emotions, or perspectives that only you can bring to the table.
Think about it: two people can paint a sunset, but one might capture it in a way that feels deeply personal, full of colors and emotions that reflect their own experiences. The other might just be copying a tutorial. One is art. The other? Maybe technically skilled, but not necessarily creative.
This is why creativity isn’t just about being clever or thinking outside the box. It’s about making something that carries a unique fingerprint of your perspective, imagination, and lived experiences—whether that’s a business strategy that breaks industry norms, a movie script with a fresh take, or even a meme that’s so relatable it gets millions of shares.
So, next time you think, “Am I creative?”—ask yourself: Am I expressing something real? Am I adding a little bit of me to what I’m making? Because that’s the secret ingredient that makes creativity truly special.
2. How Creativity Fits Into Intelligence Models
For a long time, intelligence and creativity were seen as separate traits. Intelligence was about problem-solving, logic, and analytical thinking, while creativity was seen as an artistic, free-flowing, and less structured ability. But modern psychology suggests they’re more intertwined than we once thought.
The Relationship Between Creativity and IQ
One of the biggest debates in psychology is the connection between intelligence (IQ) and creativity. Researchers have found a threshold effect, meaning that up to a certain IQ level (around 120), intelligence and creativity are positively correlated. In other words, highly creative people tend to have above-average intelligence, but once someone reaches a certain IQ level, having an even higher IQ doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be more creative.
This means that while intelligence helps with creative problem-solving and idea generation, it isn’t the only factor at play. Creative thinking also involves personality traits like openness to experience, cognitive flexibility, and the ability to tolerate ambiguity.
Creativity in Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory
Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences suggests that intelligence isn’t a single ability (like IQ tests measure) but rather a set of different intelligences. Creativity doesn’t fit neatly into one of Gardner’s categories, but it overlaps with several:
– Linguistic Intelligence (writers, poets, and communicators)
– Musical Intelligence (composers, musicians, and songwriters)
– Spatial Intelligence (artists, designers, and architects)
– Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence (dancers, athletes, and actors)
Creativity shows up in various forms depending on the type of intelligence a person excels in. For example, an engineer might be highly creative in designing new technology, while a poet expresses creativity through language.
The Role of Creativity in Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
Psychologist Robert Sternberg proposed the Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, which breaks intelligence into three types:
1. Analytical Intelligence – The ability to analyze and solve structured problems (like what’s tested on IQ exams).
2. Practical Intelligence – The ability to solve real-world problems and adapt to environments.
3. Creative Intelligence – The ability to generate new ideas, see patterns, and make unique connections.
Sternberg argues that intelligence is incomplete without creativity because intelligence alone helps people solve existing problems, but creativity is what allows people to invent new solutions. This is why companies and industries value creative thinkers just as much as analytical ones.
Guilford’s Divergent and Convergent Thinking Model
J.P. Guilford, one of the first psychologists to study creativity in depth, introduced the concept of divergent thinking vs. convergent thinking:
– Convergent Thinking: Finding the single best answer to a problem (e.g., solving a math equation).
– Divergent Thinking: Generating multiple possible solutions to a problem (e.g., brainstorming different ways to use a paperclip).
Divergent thinking is a hallmark of creativity—it’s what allows people to break away from traditional thinking patterns and come up with novel ideas.
Cattell’s Fluid vs. Crystallized Intelligence and Creativity
Raymond Cattell proposed that intelligence has two major components:
– Fluid Intelligence – The ability to think flexibly, solve new problems, and adapt to unfamiliar situations.
– Crystallized Intelligence – Knowledge and skills accumulated over time through learning and experience.
Creativity is more closely tied to fluid intelligence, which helps people come up with original ideas and solutions. But it can also be influenced by crystallized intelligence—the more knowledge and experience a person has, the more material they have to work with creatively.
3. The Brain’s Unexpected Creativity Collab
For the longest time, people thought creativity lived in one half of the brain—the artsy, colorful, free-spirited right hemisphere—while logic and structure hung out in the left hemisphere. Turns out, that’s a total myth. Creativity is actually a team effort across multiple brain regions, and the real magic happens when systems that don’t usually vibe together suddenly sync up.
At the heart of creative thinking, you’ve got two major brain networks doing an unexpected dance:
1. The Default Mode Network (DMN): Your Mind’s Wanderlust Mode
The DMN is like that friend who constantly daydreams in class but somehow still comes up with brilliant ideas. This network is most active when you’re not actively trying to focus—like when you’re zoning out in the shower, staring at the clouds, or daydreaming while pretending to work.
Why does that matter? Because when your mind wanders, it starts making weird, unexpected connections between things you wouldn’t normally link together. That’s how you get those “Wait… what if we did it this way instead?” moments that lead to innovative breakthroughs.
2. The Executive Control Network (ECN): The Brain’s “Get Stuff Done” System
If the DMN is your imaginative, dreamy side, the ECN is the part of your brain that keeps you on task. It’s in charge of planning, problem-solving, and filtering out the wild ideas that don’t quite make sense (like deciding that painting your room entirely black might not be the mood boost you thought it would be).
The ECN steps in after the DMN has tossed a bunch of random, chaotic ideas onto the table. It’s like a project manager sorting through a pile of creative brainstorm notes, organizing them, and figuring out how to actually turn them into something useful.
Now, here’s the wild part: these two networks aren’t usually active at the same time. They’re like siblings who normally don’t get along—one thrives on structure, the other thrives on randomness.
But creativity is one of the rare times when they sync up and work together. The DMN dreams up unconventional ideas, while the ECN helps shape them into something real. That’s why you might randomly get a creative idea while driving or cooking (DMN at work), but you need to sit down and refine it to make it into something tangible (ECN taking over).
So, next time a genius idea pops into your head seemingly out of nowhere, you can thank this odd-couple brain partnership. Creativity isn’t just about being imaginative—it’s about balancing inspiration with structure and letting your brain’s unexpected collabs lead the way.
4. What’s Really Happening When You Have a “Eureka!” Moment?
You know those moments when an idea just clicks? Like when you’ve been struggling with a problem for days, give up, and then—boom!—the answer comes to you while you’re shampooing your hair? That’s a “Eureka!” moment, and it turns out, your brain is doing some serious behind-the-scenes work to make it happen.
Psychologists have broken this process down into two types of thinking:
System 1: Your Brain’s “Lightning Bolt” Mode
This is fast, automatic, and unconscious thinking—the kind that happens when an idea just pops into your head without you actively trying. System 1 is intuitive and works by recognizing patterns, pulling from past experiences, and making unexpected connections in a split second.
It’s why you might suddenly remember where you lost your keys while you’re doing something totally unrelated, or why a joke lands perfectly in conversation without you having to overthink it. It’s also the system responsible for those out-of-nowhere moments of genius.
System 2: The Brain’s “Let’s Slow This Down” Mode
If System 1 is the impulsive creative spark, System 2 is the logical, step-by-step thinker. This is where deep problem-solving, analysis, and critical thinking happen. It’s what helps refine your ideas after your brain throws a wild one your way.
Think of System 1 as the wild artist throwing paint at a canvas, and System 2 as the meticulous editor who steps in later to shape it into something polished.
Why Some People Have More Eureka Moments
Some brains are just better at jumping between these two systems. Highly creative people tend to have a brain that:
– Spots connections faster. Their brains make links between unrelated concepts that others might not see.
– Tolerates ambiguity. They’re more comfortable with incomplete ideas and letting them “marinate” before reaching a conclusion.
– Lets go of rigid thinking. They’re willing to abandon conventional approaches and let intuition take over when needed.
The Trick to Triggering More Aha! Moments
The crazy part? You actually can’t force a Eureka moment. The more you try to “think” your way to a creative breakthrough, the harder it is for your brain to relax into System 1 mode. That’s why some of your best ideas come when you’re doing something completely unrelated—like taking a walk, washing dishes, or lying in bed right before sleep.
So if you’ve been racking your brain for a solution and getting nowhere, the best thing you can do? Step away, let your mind wander, and let your brain’s natural creativity system do its thing.
5. Why Your Brain Gets Super Creative Right Before Sleep
You know that weird, floaty state when you’re just about to fall asleep—where your thoughts start blending into random, dream-like scenarios? That’s called the hypnagogic state, and it turns out, it’s prime real estate for creativity.
In this in-between stage, your brain is relaxed but still processing information, which makes it way better at forming unexpected connections. That’s why artists, inventors, and even scientists have historically tapped into this zone for creative inspiration. Thomas Edison? He literally used to hold metal balls in his hands while falling asleep so they’d drop and wake him up the moment he hit that creative sweet spot.
Your Half-Asleep Brain Thinks Differently
A study put this theory to the test by waking people up right as they entered the hypnagogic state and asking them to jot down ideas. The results? The sleepy ideas were significantly more creative than the fully awake ones. Basically, your groggy, almost-dreaming brain is better at thinking outside the box than your fully conscious, overanalyzing self.
Why? Because when you’re awake, your brain follows logical patterns and filters out “random” thoughts. But when you’re in that sleepy state, your mental filter is off—allowing wild, free-flowing ideas to surface without judgment.
How to Hack Your Sleep for Creativity
If you want to channel your inner Edison, try this:
– Keep a notebook by your bed. Write down any ideas that come to you right before sleep or the second you wake up. Don’t judge them—just get them down.
– Nap smarter. Short naps (10–20 minutes) can give your brain a hypnagogic boost without making you groggy.
– Use sleep as a problem-solving tool. If you’re stuck on a creative challenge, think about it before bed and let your brain do the heavy lifting while you sleep.
Basically, your half-asleep brain is a creativity goldmine. Instead of forcing inspiration, let sleep do some of the work for you.
6. How to Level Up Your Creative Thinking
If you think creativity is something you’re either born with or not, let me stop you right there. Creativity is a skill—just like learning to play an instrument or getting good at cooking. And just like any skill, the more you practice it, the stronger it gets. So, if you want to train your brain to be more creative, here’s how to do it without forcing yourself to sit in front of a blank page waiting for inspiration to strike.
1. Let Your Mind Wander—On Purpose
Ever caught yourself staring off into space, lost in thought? Turns out, that’s not wasted time—it’s prime creative time. Studies show that structured daydreaming (a fancy way of saying “intentional zoning out”) can help spark creative breakthroughs.
💡 How to do it: Instead of forcing an idea, try setting aside time to let your mind wander while loosely thinking about a problem or challenge. Go for a walk, doodle, or listen to instrumental music while letting your brain freestyle ideas in the background.
2. Play the “What If?” Game
Creativity is all about making weird, unexpected connections. One of the best ways to train your brain to do this is by challenging yourself to connect totally unrelated ideas.
💡 Try this: Pick two random words (like “banana” and “WiFi”) and challenge yourself to find a link between them. Maybe you invent a futuristic banana-shaped router. Maybe you think of a marketing campaign for fruit-based internet cafés. It doesn’t matter how realistic your ideas are—the goal is to stretch your brain to see connections where most people wouldn’t.
3. Give Your Brain a Break (Seriously, Stop Forcing It)
If you’ve ever had your best ideas while taking a shower, cooking, or doing something completely unrelated, that’s because your subconscious brain was still working on it—even when you weren’t.
💡 Next time you’re stuck, step away. Go for a run, clean your room, or take a nap. Your brain will process the problem in the background, and you might come back with a fresh perspective without even trying.
4. Change Your Scenery
Being in the same environment every day can make your thinking stale. Studies show that stepping into wide, open spaces (like a park, a hiking trail, or even a quiet street) can boost creative thinking by expanding your focus.
💡 Quick hack: If you can’t get outside, try working near a window, switching up your workspace, or even surrounding yourself with colors and objects that inspire you. A simple change in surroundings can shake up your perspective.
5. Say Yes to New Experiences
Highly creative people tend to have one thing in common: they’re curious about everything. Trying new experiences forces your brain to adapt, think differently, and form fresh ideas based on things you’ve never encountered before.
💡 Ways to challenge yourself:
– Read a book from a genre you never touch.
– Listen to music from a culture you know nothing about.
– Take a random online class (pottery? coding? astronomy?).
– Try an activity that pushes you out of your comfort zone, even if you suck at it.
The more new inputs you feed your brain, the more creative connections it can make later.
6. Don’t Trust Every “Aha!” Moment
Getting a sudden stroke of genius feels amazing. But here’s the thing—just because an idea feels brilliant in the moment doesn’t mean it actually is.
💡 Creativity tip: Let ideas sit for a while before acting on them. Sleep on it, come back later, and look at it with fresh eyes. If it still holds up, it’s worth exploring. If not? No worries—every “bad” idea is just a stepping stone to a better one.
7. Make Creativity a Habit
Creativity isn’t about waiting for inspiration—it’s about showing up regularly and training your brain to think differently. People who engage in creative activities on a regular basis—whether it’s writing, painting, photography, or making TikToks—score higher in creativity tests. It’s like going to the gym for your brain.
7. Can Tech Really Make You More Creative?
Alright, so we know that creativity is a mix of brainpower, experience, and a dash of daydreaming—but what if technology could actually boost it? Scientists are already playing around with ways to do just that, and some of the experiments sound straight out of a sci-fi movie.
One of the most intriguing? Brain stimulation. Yep, researchers have been testing a method called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)—basically, sending a tiny electrical current to the brain’s frontopolar cortex (a region linked to creative thinking). And get this: people who got the brain zap generated more creative ideas than those who didn’t. It’s like a brain boost button, except… well, not exactly FDA-approved for your at-home DIY use (yet).
Could We One Day “Hack” Creativity?
While the idea of brain stimulation sounds futuristic, it actually raises a bigger question: Can we engineer creativity? If creativity is about making unique connections between ideas, could technology help us do that better?
We’re already seeing hints of this in everyday tech:
– AI-assisted brainstorming tools that help spark ideas by generating unexpected suggestions.
– VR and immersive experiences that can put you in environments designed to enhance creativity.
– Neurofeedback devices that track brain waves and help train your brain to enter a more creative state.
And while we might not be strapping on creativity helmets just yet, research suggests that tweaking brain activity could be one way to unlock new levels of original thinking in the future.
The Catch? Creativity Can’t Be “Hacked” So Easily
Here’s the thing—while tech might help enhance creativity, it can’t replace the real work of actually developing it. Even if brain stimulation can make idea-generation easier, your experiences, personality, and curiosity still play the biggest role in shaping creative thinking.
So, sure, the idea of a creativity-boosting headset sounds cool, but for now? The best creativity hack is still the old-school method—feeding your brain with new experiences, letting ideas marinate, and giving yourself space to think differently.
8. Creativity Isn’t Magic—It’s a Skill You Can Build
If there’s one thing to take away from all this, it’s that creativity isn’t some mysterious, unreachable superpower reserved for artists or geniuses. It’s something your brain is already wired to do—you just have to nurture it.
We’ve seen how creativity is a mix of spontaneous insights and structured problem-solving, how your brain networks work together in weird and wonderful ways, and how sleep, mind-wandering, and even technology can give your creativity a boost. But at the end of the day, creativity thrives on curiosity, openness, and a willingness to explore new ideas—even the bad ones.
So, whether you’re brainstorming your next big project, trying to get unstuck from a mental block, or just looking to think more freely in everyday life, remember: creativity is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.
Now go daydream, make weird connections, and let your brain do what it was built to do—create.
