Creativity Webinar

Creativity is not limited to artists or inventors. It shapes how we solve problems, adapt to change, imagine alternatives, and make meaning in our lives. Yet many people feel creatively blocked, stuck in familiar ways of thinking, or unable to access fresh perspectives, especially under pressure or routine.

From a neuroscience perspective, creativity is closely tied to how flexible the brain is. Over time, habits, roles, and repeated patterns of thought can narrow perception and reinforce predictable responses. While this efficiency can be useful, it can also limit imagination, curiosity, and our ability to see beyond well-worn mental pathways.

A study involving psilocybin suggested that psychedelics could be a novel tool to investigate underlying neural mechanisms of the creative process [1]. The study also supported historical claims that psychedelics can influence aspects of the creative process, reducing conventional thinking, and giving rise to novel thoughts [1].

What We’ll Explore

How creativity is expressed in the brain and why it can feel blocked over time
The role of rigid thinking patterns in limiting imagination and insight
What current research suggests about psychedelics and cognitive flexibility
How altered perception can influence problem-solving and new perspectives

[1] Mason, N.L., Kuypers, K.P.C., Reckweg, J.T. et al. Spontaneous and deliberate creative cognition during and after psilocybin exposure. Transl Psychiatry 11, 209 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01335-5