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WIRED FOR NOVELTY - The neuroscience of creativity

Nov 7, 20243 min read

By Sara Stan


Did curiosity kill the cat? Well, even if it did, the cat still has eight lives left to be curious. And it’s not just cats—curiosity is a trait found across the animal kingdom, from the mightiest mammals to the humblest of worms. Take the nematode for instance, one of the simplest creatures with a nervous system with only 383 neurons. Despite this, it exhibits an undeniable drive to explore its environment, as if searching for more than just food, craving to know what else is out there.


In humans, this same instinct for curiosity is magnified, powered by an astonishing 86 billion neurons. Our brains are constantly seeking the next new thing, drawn irresistibly to novelty and the unknown. This insatiable desire to explore, to ask questions, and to feel deeply is what fuels creativity, transforming curiosity into art, science, and innovations.


The Brain’s Creative Networks: Prefrontal Cortex and DMN


Contrary to popular belief, creativity isn’t a purely spontaneous process, in fact, it requires significant cognitive effort. A 2016 study found that creativity depends on the cooperation between two key brain networks: the prefrontal cortex and the default mode network (DMN).


The prefrontal cortex, often referred to as the brain’s command center, is responsible for higher cognitive functions like planning, decision-making, and problem-solving. It plays a crucial role in helping us filtrate ideas and assess which are worth keeping. When our curiosity is piqued, this region becomes highly engaged, allowing us to make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts and imagine new possibilities.


Working harmoniously with the prefrontal cortex is the default mode network (DMN), a brain region that becomes active when we are left to our own devices and our mind starts to wander and form random and impulsive thoughts leading to daydreaming or “having one’s head in the clouds”. While it’s often seen as the opposite of focused thinking, the DMN is actually vital for creativity. It allows our brains to wander freely, processing memories, exploring abstract thoughts, and making unexpected connections. This spontaneous thinking is what helps generate those “aha” moments when ideas suddenly click into place.The curious thing is that when researchers asked people to plan an artwork, they found increased cooperation between these two networks, highlighting the balance between structured thought and free-flowing imagination.


The Power Creativity Driven by Emotions


While curiosity drives the brain to seek new information, emotions also play a vital role in how we approach creative tasks.

• Awe and Wonder: These emotions arise when we encounter something unexpected and interesting that challenges our understanding of the world and catches our attention. Experiencing awe can expand our sense of time, making us feel more open and patient with new ideas. It encourages us to think more deeply, which often leads to innovative ideas.

• Excitement and Joy: When curiosity sparks excitement, it activates the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that can enhance learning and memory. Positive emotions like excitement boost cognitive flexibility, allowing us to think more freely and creatively. This joyful exploration can often lead to unexpected connections and breakthroughs.

• Frustration: While positive emotions often get the spotlight in creativity, negative emotions like frustration are sadly underrated in their ability to help us create. When we face a roadblock , frustration can push us to persevere and think outside the box. This phenomenon, known as creative tension, can help drive us when we feel stuck.


Creativity: A Collage of the Familiar and the New


Ultimately, creativity is the process of assembling the familiar in new and unexpected ways. Our brains, juggling a sea of electrical signals, take memories, past experiences, and learned concepts and piece them together like a collage of photos, forming a cognitive kaleidoscope of a myriad of new patterns and colors. Whether we’re writing a poem, solving a scientific problem,  inventing new technology, or changing the world, creativity is essentially the act of making the unknown clear and palpable.



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