Creativity as flexible cognitive control.

TLDR

Creative individuals have been described as exhibiting both greater automatic processing (e.g., defocused attention, loose associations) and greater controlled processing (e.g., focused attention), but a static ability view cannot accommodate both. The study investigates whether creative individuals can modulate their cognitive control system in a context‑sensitive manner. The study measured creativity using the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking and the Creative Achievement Questionnaire, and had 50 participants complete a color–word Stroop task to assess cognitive control. Creative individuals did not differ from others in overriding Stroop conflicts, but showed greater trial‑to‑trial modulation of cognitive control, indicating more flexible control.

Abstract

Creative individuals have been described in terms suggestive of greater automatic processing (e.g., defocused attention, looser associations) and greater controlled processing (e.g., greater abilities to focus while working on a creative task). Both views cannot be correct from a static ability-related perspective. On the other hand, both views could be correct if creative individuals are better able to modulate the functioning of their cognitive control system in a context-sensitive manner. The present study (N 50) assessed individual differences in creativity in terms of original responses on the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (Torrance, 1974) and also in terms of creative behavior on the Creative Achievement Questionnaire (Carson, Peterson, & Higgins, 2005). The same participants performed a color–word Stroop task. Creative individuals were neither more nor less capable of overriding cognitive conflicts on incongruent (relative to congruent) Stroop trials. On the other hand, creative individuals displayed more flexible cognitive control, as defined by greater cognitive control modulation from trial to trial. Implications for theories of creativity and its underlying processing basis are discussed.