Once upon a time, there was a fad for left-brain and right-brain thinking - but that was bunk. Then neuroscience discovered that highly talented individuals had more connections across the two hemispheres. Now, research is focusing on how those connections actually work.
A neural network is different to a brain region in that a network shows different regions engaging together to produce what we would think of as one experience - such as reading this article.
The research looked at three important neural networks: the executive network, which is engaged in complex mental tasks such as problem solving; the default mode, which is activated when we're in a resting or ruminative state; and the salience network, which monitors incoming input, prioritizes it, and allows us to efficiently process it. [Pacific Standard magazine]
In most people, these three networks tend to work in opposition to each other. For example, a new input - such as someone walking into the room - would shift one's attention from the problem one was working on to the problem that just walked in!
However, the research found that highly creative individuals were able to juggle all three networks at the same time.
Interesting, but how does that help you?
Well, the conclusions made are actually in line with what we already know, or at least as reported by many creative thinkers: being creative is not just one process.
Finding a creative solution starts with a problem. That problem requires some intense focus - it must be an important problem else the brain won't give it the cell-space. But then, one needs to relax out of that intensity. That is when one can play around and daydream through the problem. Then, even going away to do something else, the brain has been instructed to carry on processing the problem in the background. Shifting one's focus from crystal clarity to soft focus, and back again, often yields unexpected breakthroughs.
That seems to be a practical way of helping the three neural networks work together. Glad to see neuroscience is starting to explain why the above technique works.
Try it!
Focus and Relax!
images: pixabay (edited)
