"Emotional Responses to Visual Art and Commercial Stimuli: Implications for Creativity and Aesthetics" by Mei-Chun Cheung, Derry Law, Joanne Yip and Christina W. Y. Wong

Summary

This research explores how the brain responds emotionally to visual art compared to everyday commercial displays, specifically focusing on fashion window displays in a Chinese context. Using electroencephalography (EEG) to measure frontal alpha asymmetry, the study found that viewers experienced positive emotional responses to paintings regardless of whether they found them beautiful. However, for commercial window displays, positive emotions were only present when the displays were judged as beautiful; otherwise, negative emotional responses occurred. These findings suggest that in a commercial setting, aesthetics are crucial for eliciting favourable consumer emotions, potentially highlighting cultural differences in how creative products are perceived.

by Piera Riccio, Francesco Galati , Maria A. Zuluaga , Juan Carlos De Martin, and Stefano Nichele

Summary

This academic paper introduces a novel system that uses artificial intelligence to translate brain activity (EEG signals) into visual art, specifically paintings. The core of the system involves processing EEG data to encode emotional states and then using a generative network to create paintings that visually express those emotions. The researchers emphasise the challenge of formally defining and processing emotions but demonstrate how their human-machine interaction paradigm can result in unique artistic representations of feeling. The findings suggest promising potential for AI technologies in computational creativity and affective computing, opening up new possibilities for artistic expression and therapy.

"The Creative Brain: Investigation of Brain Activity During Creative Problem Solving by Means of EEG and fMRI" by Andreas Fink, Roland H. Grabner, Mathias Benedek, Gernot Reishofer, Verena Hauswirth, Maria Fally, Christa Neuper, Franz Ebner, and Aljoscha C. Neubauer

Summary

This research investigates brain activity during creative problem-solving using EEG and fMRI. The authors found that generating original ideas is associated with increased alpha activity (alpha synchronisation), particularly in frontal and posterior parietal brain regions. While frontal alpha synchronisation might reflect active cognitive processes rather than a deactivated brain state, the findings regarding posterior parietal regions suggest a more complex relationship between alpha activity and brain activation. Ultimately, the study indicates that creative thinking involves a network of brain areas and processes, including selective inhibition and semantic selection.

"Understanding individual problem-solving style: A key to learning and applying creative problem solving" by Donald J. Treffinger, Edwin C. Selby, Scott G. Isaksen

Summary

This document is a scholarly paper exploring the concept of problem-solving style as a critical factor in the effective learning and application of Creative Problem Solving (CPS). The authors summarise existing research and present new data to support the idea that understanding how individuals prefer to approach problems, manage information, and make decisions (style) is crucial for enhancing both individual and team problem-solving efforts. The paper introduces a three-dimensional model of problem-solving style (Orientation to Change, Manner of Processing, and Ways of Deciding) and a related assessment tool, highlighting how differences in these preferences influence how people engage with the CPS process and ultimately contribute to more successful outcomes when managing change.

"Creative problem solving: past, present and future" by Gerard Puccio and John Cabra

Summary

This text explores the historical development and current state of Creative Problem Solving (CPS), a structured approach designed to enhance creative thinking and generate novel solutions to complex problems. It traces CPS from its origins in the work of Alex Osborn to its modern iterations, highlighting how the process has evolved to become less rigidly linear and more adaptable. A key aspect discussed is the Thinking Skills Model, the latest version of CPS, which explicitly links specific cognitive and affective skills to each step, aiming to make the process more effective and easier to teach. Ultimately, the source suggests future directions for CPS, including the integration of Eastern philosophies, technology, and ethnographic methods.

"What Is Design Thinking and Why Is It Important?" by Rim Razzouk and Valerie Shute

Summary

This academic paper defines design thinking as a blend of analytical and creative problem-solving that involves experimenting, prototyping, gathering feedback, and redesigning. The authors summarise existing research to understand the characteristics and processes involved, including the differences between novice and expert design thinkers. Ultimately, the article aims to highlight the importance of design thinking for developing students' problem-solving abilities in the modern world and suggests methods for fostering these skills within educational settings.

"Creativity and The Wandering Mind: Spontaneous and Controlled Cognition" edited by David D. Preiss, Diego Cosmelli, and James C. Kaufman

Summary

This academic text, "Creativity and the Wandering Mind," delves into the intricate relationship between mind wandering, spontaneous and controlled cognition, and creativity across various domains. It explores how mind wandering and imaginative processes are not merely distractions but can be crucial for generating novel ideas and solving problems, drawing on neuroscientific findings, particularly regarding the default mode network. The book also examines the impact of different factors like altered states of consciousness, childhood pretend play, and even teaching strategies on creative thinking and how these mental processes can be understood through the lens of abstraction and metacognitive control, ultimately suggesting that a dynamic interplay between focused attention and mind wandering is key to unlocking creative potential.

"Art looks different – Semantic and syntactic processing of paintings and associated neurophysiological brain responses" by Patrick S. Markey⁎, Martina Jakesch, Helmut Leder

Neuroscience, EEG, ERP, Surrealistic Art

Summary

This academic paper explores how the brain processes meaning and structure when viewing art, comparing it to the processing of everyday scenes. The study uses Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), which are brain responses measured by EEG, to investigate how semantic inconsistencies (meaning) and syntactic inconsistencies (structure) are perceived in surrealist paintings versus photographs. The findings suggest that the brain's response to inconsistencies in art is different from that in natural scenes, implying that a specific art-related processing mode or schema influences perception. While behavioural ratings showed paintings and their inconsistencies were rated as more inconsistent than photographs, the ERP patterns indicated the opposite of previous findings for everyday scenes.

"A framework for neurophysiological experiments on flow states" by Oliver Durcan , Peter Holland & Joydeep Bhattacharya

Summary

This academic perspective piece examines the difficulties in reliably studying the neurophysiology of flow states, particularly in laboratory settings that may not fully replicate the conditions under which flow naturally occurs. The authors propose a framework based on activity autonomy, highlighting factors beyond the traditional challenge-skill balance that influence flow, such as interaction speed, feedback, strategy, and goals. They also provide a detailed methodological checklist for future neurophysiological studies on flow, advocating for approaches that account for participant skills, motivation, and individual differences, and for more nuanced analysis of self-report data. The ultimate aim is to address inconsistencies in previous research and advance our understanding of the neural basis of flow.

"Absolute Essentials of Creative Thinking and Problem Solving" by Tony Proctor

Summary

This concise textbook, "Absolute Essentials of Creative Thinking and Problem Solving," offers a structured approach to understanding and applying creative thinking and problem-solving techniques within a business context. It moves step-by-step through the process, from theoretical foundations like how the brain processes information and the cognitive theory of creativity, to identifying and overcoming blocks to creative thinking. The book then delves into various problem-solving methodologies, including a common-sense approach and structured techniques for objective, fact, and problem finding. A significant portion is dedicated to generating ideas through both non-analogical methods like brainstorming and morphological analysis, and analogical methods like synectics, before concluding with guidance on evaluating ideas and implementing them effectively, acknowledging the role of technology and digital creativity throughout.