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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Unilateral Pyramidotomy of the Corticospinal Tract in Rats for Assessment of Neuroplasticity-inducing Therapies

Unilateral Pyramidotomy of the Corticospinal Tract in Rats for Assessment of Neuroplasticity-inducing Therapies

Published on: December 15, 2014

Unilateral muscle contractions enhance creative thinking.

Abraham Goldstein¹, Ketty Revivo, Michal Kreitler

¹Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. goldsa@mail.biu.ac.il

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

|December 21, 2010

Summary

Activating the right hemisphere (RH) through left-hand contractions enhanced creative problem-solving performance on the Remote Associates Test. This motor activation technique shows potential for aiding individuals with hemispheric imbalances.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Psychology

Background:

The right hemisphere (RH) is traditionally associated with creative thinking.
Understanding how to modulate hemispheric activity could offer new avenues for cognitive enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if artificial activation of the RH via unilateral hand contractions can improve creative problem-solving abilities.
To explore the influence of hemispheric balance on cognitive task performance.

Main Methods:

Participants performed the Remote Associates Test after engaging in unilateral hand contractions (left or right hand) or no contraction.
The study design aimed to selectively activate the RH or left hemisphere (LH) through motor tasks.

Main Results:

Individuals who contracted their left hand (activating the RH) demonstrated significantly higher scores on the creative problem-solving task.
Performance was superior compared to participants who contracted their right hand (activating the LH) or performed no contraction.

Conclusions:

Motor activation can effectively tilt the hemispheric balance, influencing cognitive processes like creative problem-solving.
This technique holds potential as a therapeutic intervention for disorders linked to hemispheric imbalances, such as language impairments.