Placebo can enhance creativity

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• The placebo effect is typically studied for symptom reduction (pain, depression).
• Emerging research explores placebo for enhancing positive cognitive functions like memory and learning.
• The potential of placebo to enhance creativity remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether the placebo effect can enhance creativity.
• To assess creativity using standardized tests and a novel automated game.
• To explore the potential of automated creativity assessment.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with 90 participants (45 placebo, 45 control).
• Placebo group received an odorant with suggested creativity-enhancing effects.
• Creativity assessed using the creative foraging game (CFG), alternate uses test (AUT), and Torrance test (TTCT).

Main Results:

• The placebo group demonstrated significantly higher originality in the CFG and AUT.
• Placebo participants exhibited greater 'out-of-the-boxness' in the CFG.
• No significant difference was found in the Torrance test for the placebo group.

Conclusions:

• Placebo administration can enhance specific aspects of creativity, notably originality.
• Findings support the use of placebo for augmenting positive cognitive functions.
• The creative foraging game (CFG) offers a viable automated method for assessing creativity.