Allowing the Mind To Wander Aids Creative Problem Solving

ananyo writes "From the Nature story: 'Scientists from Archimedes to Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein are said to have had flashes of inspiration while thinking about other things. But the mechanisms behind this psychological phenomenon have remained unclear. A study now suggests that simply taking a break does not bring on inspiration — rather, creativity is fostered by tasks that allow the mind to wander.' The researchers gave 145 students 2 minutes to list as many possible uses for an everyday object (the creative thinking task). Participants then either rested, undertook a demanding memory activity that required their full attention or engaged in an undemanding reaction-time activity known to elicit mind-wandering. A fourth group of students had no break. The researchers then set the students a second set of unusual-uses tasks and found those that had, in the interim, been set the undemanding task that encouraged mind-wandering performed an average of around 40% better than they did before. The students in the other three groups showed no improvement."

It's the step back effect

[jholyhead]

I expect those of us in intellectually demanding jobs have encountered the step back effect.

You'll spend three hours banging your head against your desk trying to find a solution to a tricky problem. Eventually, the caffeinated beverages you've been throwing back conspire against you and you have to make a trip to the bathroom. I solve more tricky problems during those 2 minute bathroom breaks than at any other point in the day.

Incidentally I find I can use this effect to justify all kinds of frowned upon office behaviour. I'm not watching cat videos on Youtube, I'm stepping away from the problem. I'm not browsing the Dilbert archives, I'm putting some distance between myself and the dilemma. I'm not facebook stalking the temp on reception, I'm seeking an alternative perspective on the issue du jour.

Yes yes yes!

[ohnocitizen]

When I am working on a particularly difficult problem, I read Slashdot for a bit. After drinking down an article about the TSA or censorship, boom! The solution just pops into my head and away I go. That's the Slashdot Advantage(tm)!

Re:Yes yes yes!

[PRMan]

I'm not sure if you are joking, but this totally happens to me all the time.

What they aren't saying:

[Poltron Inconnu]

An undemanding task that lets the mind wander... I think they're not wanting to come right out and admit that most people do their best thinking on the toilet.

And yet ...

[PPH]

... Slashdot has a -1 Offtopic mod.

Re:Creativity

[SomeJoel]

I blogged about your comment on angrylibertarian.tumblr.com if you care (I did it even if you don't care too).

This is from your blog:

Iâ(TM)m pretty sure that nobody in their right mind is claiming that âoeWhat I do doesnâ(TM)t affect youâ but rather the claim is âoeNot everything that affects you allows you to legitimately respond with violenceâ.

Now since you were responding to me, and I was talking about helmet laws, how do you get "respond with violence" from "require motorcycle riders to wear helmets or goggles"?

I think this is how libertarians get their reputation as being a little bit goofy.

Hey man, calm down, there's no reason to get all violent!