Free Your Mind: Creative Thinking Contributes to Overcoming Conflict-Related Biases

Brainstorming: Interbrain coupling in groups forms the basis of group creativity

Although the impact of group dynamics on creativity is widely recognized, prior research has primarily concentrated on individuals in isolation from social context. To address this lacuna, we focus on groups as the fundamental unit of analysis. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine brain activity in groups of four during brainstorming discussions. We assessed interbrain coupling in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a brain region linked to flexibility, and in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), a region associated with imitation. Our findings demonstrate that creativity-focused discussions induced interbrain coupling both in regions related to flexibility and herding. Notably, interbrain coupling in the IFG was associated with more imitation of responses. Critically, while interbrain coupling in the DLPFC positively predicted group creativity, in the IFG it negatively predicted creativity. These findings suggest that increase in group mindsets of flexibility relative to herding is important for enhancing group creativity.

The reciprocal relationship between openness and creativity: from neurobiology to multicultural environments

The desire for novelty and variety in experiences, which may manifest in an inclination to engage with individuals from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, collectively constitutes the personality dimension known as "Openness to Experience." Empirical research has identified a positive correlation between trait openness and various expressions of creativity, such as divergent ideation, innovative problem-solving strategies, and cumulative creative accomplishments. This nexus between openness to interpersonal diversity, as an aspect of the larger personality trait of openness, and creativity has precipitated considerable scholarly interest across the disciplines of personality, social and organizational psychology, and neuroscientific investigation. In this paper, we review the neurobehavioral properties, including the cognitive processes and neural mechanisms, that connect these two constructs. Further, we explore how culture influences levels of openness and creativity in individuals and consider how creativity predisposes individuals toward openness to a plethora of experiences, including those occurring in culturally diverse contexts. This reciprocal entanglement of creativity and openness has been shown to foster a reduction in biases, augment conflict resolution capabilities, and generally yield superior outcomes in multicultural environments.